by W. Troy Dunlop, C.E.T.
Director of Roads and Public Works
Town of Mississippi Mills
Shortly after 10:00am this morning, the bridge on Ramsay Concession 8 was removed by crane where it crosses the Indian River at the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area. The 20m long deck-truss bridge will now be disassembled on the north side of the river crossing, with scrap metal components being sent for recycling. The “Mill of Kintail” bridge was originally built in 1940 and has served the municipality well over its 73 year lifespan. Numerous emergency repairs have been carried out on the bridge in recent years including deck patching, truss repairs, and extensive wood bracing. The bridge is now being replaced with a concrete structure as part of Town’s commitment to address the deficit in bridge work currently facing the municipality.
Lischer Construction Inc. has been contracted by the Town to replace the bridge, guide rails and approach works as part of the 2013 work program. The total value of the new bridge is $568,000 plus HST with an engineered lifespan of 75 years. Concession 8 will be open to traffic at the end of September when the bridge works are complete.