UPDATE (12:25 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12): Bracebridge residents and visitors are advised that the Trethewey's Falls Bridge is reopened to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, after two week-long extensions to the original closure. The bridge was temporarily closed from Aug. 30 to Oct. 12 for a rehabilitation project.
The Trethewey’s Falls Bridge, located at 1071 Trethewey’s Falls Rd., spans over the south branch of the Muskoka River approximately 0.5 kilometres north of Highway 118 (east).
Construction was expected to occur for approximately four weeks beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 30. The bridge was expected to be closed to all vehicular traffic for approximately three weeks beginning on Thursday, Sept. 7, while the work was being completed. Due to unforeseen circumstances, on Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Trethewey’s Falls Bridge closure was extended by approximately one week, to Oct. 6 and then on Oct. 4 for a further week, to Oct. 13. Emergency services and pedestrian access across the bridge was maintained during the entire construction period. The bridge reopened on Oct. 12.
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Two Bracebridge area bridges received needed repairs to protect against future flood damage.
D.M. Wills Associates Ltd., consulting engineers, inspected the bridges following the 2019 spring flood and during the summer of 2020. The inspections recommended that bridge abutment protection measures and the replacement of various bridge elements be completed in order to protect the structures from future flood damage and keep them in a good state of repair. D.M. Wills Associates Ltd., who designed the bridge improvements, is also providing contract administration and inspection services during construction on behalf of the town.
The Peterson Bridge, located at 1078 Old Victoria Rd., passes over the Black River approximately 0.7 kilometres south of the Village of Vankoughnet. Construction work on the Peterson Bridge was completed Aug. 25.
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The town said in the press release it is committed to maintaining safe and orderly work sites. While noise, heavy equipment and temporary closures are intrusive, they are common elements of bridge rehabilitation projects. The town said it appreciates the public’s patience while it works to upgrade the infrastructure, apologizes for the inconvenience and thanking the public for its co-operation.
