Expect traffic delays in the vicinity of downtown Bracebridge for several months as a massive sewer and bridge rehabilitation project gets underway.
During the most recent District of Muskoka council meeting, councillors awarded the Taylor Road Bridge and sewer rehabilitation contract for $4.2 million to UrbanLink Civil Ltd. out of Beamsville, ON.
Bracebridge councillors discussed the project during their latest Town council meeting, where they had questions about the effect of the road closure on traffic congestion and emergency services. Taylor Road is a District-maintained roadway, so it falls under their jurisdiction.
Coun. Debbie Vernon said a similar closure of the Taylor Road Bridge in October 2023 to do work on the railway crossing led to motorists ignoring the road signage. In particular, Vernon said she’s concerned people will disregard the one-way traffic sign and attempt to traverse the bridge in the wrong direction.
There were also some concerns regarding the ability of the fire department to navigate the bridge while it’s under construction. However, Fire Chief Scott Granahan said the department will evaluate their routes daily during construction. He said they would also be in regular contact with Muskoka Paramedic Services, who operate out of the same building as the fire department to keep abreast of traffic conditions.
The contract is scheduled to commence on April 15, 2024, with a targeted completion of fall 2024.
In April, May and June traffic will be primarily restricted to a single lane travelling in the westbound direction only (towards downtown). Eastbound traffic will be fully restricted and detoured. These closures will be continuous, including during non-working hours.
A full road closure of approximately one week will be required to facilitate the installation of deep infrastructure at the Taylor Road, Front Street, and Bird Lane intersection. During that time there will be no through access to Taylor Road for traffic or emergency services. Pedestrian access will be maintained through various staging and temporary accommodations.
Once the road is reopened to two-way traffic the District expects multiple, short-duration single-lane closures (under flagged conditions) may be required. However, they indicate they will likely be infrequent and will not result in detours.
According to District staff, the Taylor Road bridge needs routine rehabilitation and resurfacing work to preserve its intended service life.
The current sewer main is undersized and during high flow events (e.g. storm events) the pipe is not able to carry enough water. The excess flow causes water to rise up into the maintenance holes. Continuing to operate under these conditions can increase the risk of failure, backup, spill, or complete loss of service.
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Is there a reason why temporary traffic lights can’t be installed? Many other cases of single lane bridge work use the lights.