The Bracebridge general committee agreed to pay up to $60,000 for emergency repairs to the Town’s snowmobile bridge during their latest meeting.
Every year the Town installs and maintains a floating snowmobile bridge that provides a continued connection of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs Trail 7 and safe access for snowmobilers across the north branch of the Muskoka River. When installed, the bridge is approximately 1 km west of Wellington Street spanning between Santa’s Village Road and Beaumont Drive.
The committee heard that during the removal of the bridge in early April 2024, staff and contractors barged the south section of the bridge and approach ramp to the Bert Minett Boat Launch, so they could have a full inspection of the float system. It was immediately discovered that the floats were compromised, with many being full of water.
The bridge structure flotation system consists of 112 individual floats, spread out across the full bridge.
Committee agreed that full repairs should be made to the Bridge, to an upset limit of $60,000.
The repairs are expected to be done before the next snowmobile season.
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Let the snowmobile clubs pay the $60K repair if they want a bridge. The snowmobile season gets shorter and shorter here every year so the bridge is used less and less. Stop throwing our tax dollars away on special interest groups.