Drop-in session today on Skyway Bridge options
Administrator | Aug 17, 2016 | Comments 5
People interested in learning more about the proposals to rehabilitate the Quinte Skyway Bridge between the County and Tyendinaga are invited to drop-in information sessions today and tomorrow.
The $40+ million project is necessary to replace the 50-year-old structure. In 2011, the MTO review noted the bridge has substantial deterioration to the deck, piers, steel girders and does not conform to modern design standards. Options include closing it for two years while the work is done, or keep it open with detours for three to five years. The entire cost is to be borne by the provincial government.
Attendees at the meetings can expect an overview of environmental conditions and constraints, study background (including an overview of previous work done to date) and problem statement for the study;
Alternatives to be considered; process to evaluate and select preferred alternative; and opportunity for public to review, discuss and provide input on the study with members of the Project Team.
The meeting is a “drop-in” format without formal presentations. Wednesday, Aug. 17th 5p.m.-8p.m. at the Prince Edward County Community Centre, 375 Main St., Picton and at the Mohawk Community Centre, Tyendinaga, Thursday from 5-8 p.m.
The goal of the study will be to recommend a preferred alternative to rehabilitate the Highway 49 Quinte Skyway Bridge while minimizing disruption to traffic during rehabilitation. Alternatives to be considered include: full closure of both lanes of the bridge, partial closure (closure of one lane during construction), and single lane closure with bi-directional traffic on the bridge.
A second round of public meetings is tentatively scheduled for the fall/winter. At the end of the study a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) will be prepared and made available for a 30-day public review period.
Filed Under: Local News
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peter fidler says:
Wednesday, August 17th, 2016 at 6:57 pm
build it low, why so high
the simple answer is Physics.
is there really an issue with the height of the bridge? I drive this thing almost daily and don’t find it to be overly high.
Remember they have to take into consideration the arch needed for the span as well as water traffic (living right along the bay minutes from the bridge I can tell you there are several sailboats that use this main waterway)
That’s why I am saying this article is out of sync! When I ask him for figures, his answer was simply “all that information is public information” but he couldn’t give me any figures tonight! I questioned how much all the studies had cost so far. No answer just that it was public information–insinuating that I could go dig for it!! So how much a total replacement would cost is a good question! Maybe the Mayor knows the answer to these questions?
You are saying no replacement but a repair cost is $45,000,000! Something is out of whack.
This article is very misleading after talking to the MTO suits today! They have no intention of replacing the bridge! I was told that the cement pillars or structures in the water that hold up the bridge are good for another 60-70 years according to the engineers! They are only going to replace the pads and structure that we drive over! That should take 2 years but when I pressed him for timelines, he admitted that it could go into 3 years! They had 5 options but he made it clear, a totally new bridge was out of the question because it was just “too expensive” and also the first option of closing down the bridge for 2-3 years was not possible. So obviously these 2 so-called options are NOT even option whatsoever. I’m glad they have no intention of shutting the bridge down for 2-3 years but I was hoping they would totally replace it. It appears that this is only lip service from the public; it seems they have already made up their minds as to what they are going to do! Surprise–surprise!!
build it low, why so high?