City engineers are recommending that Kitchener council stick with their original plans for the Margaret Avenue bridge.
The bridge has been closed since last June when it was deemed to be structurally unsafe.
Plans were made to replace the bridge with a new one that would span two tracks, but those plans were put on hold while Kitchener council looked at the possibility of expanding the bridge to accommodate high speed rail.
A report from city staff states “The best information available indicates that the Province is committed to pursuing a high speed rail line in the London-Kitchener-Toronto corridor. Through recent discussions with senior GO Transit staff it is understood they are not considering HSR in any current work related to the Kitchener-Toronto rail corridor.”
“GO Transit’s position is that the currently proposed bridge opening (2-track option) is sufficient to meet their needs now and for the expansion to two-way all-day GO train service,” it continued.
The report recommends that Kitchener go ahead with construction of the 2-track bridge. That is good news for local business owners, like Ying Chau, owner of Mei King.
“We would (be) happy (if) they can soon as possible to do the job,” said Chau. The restaurant has been on Margaret Avenue for 40 years, but Chau says the combination of construction and the bridge being closed has been bad for business.
“Because Weber Street is closed now, it’s very, very bad for us.“
“It was a perfect storm because of Weber Street, so I really feel the frustration of the neighbourhood,” said Kitchener city councillor Dan Glenn-Graham.
City councillors will vote on the city engineers report at the next meeting. If it is approved, construction could begin in late October.
