The Margaret Avenue bridge in north Kitchener, which has been closed since June, isn’t scheduled to be fully rebuilt until 2015.
But at least two city councillors say they’d like to see the bridge replaced one year sooner – even if it means other projects have to be put on the back burner to make that happen.
“It’s a huge priority for our community,” Coun. Dan Glenn-Graham tells CTV News.
“We have to move forward on it as quickly as possible – certainly faster than the two years that have been forecast for it.”
The tender for demolition of the bridge will be awarded later this month, and the existing bridge is expected to be demolished before the end of the year.
Structural concerns forced the closure of the bridge in June, as city engineers fear it could collapse without warning.
A similarly designed bridge collapsed suddenly in Quebec in 2006, killing five people.
Glenn-Graham says he’d like to see the new bridge up and running by late 2014.
“It’s a major inconvenience for traffic,” he says.
Coun. John Gazzola agrees, saying planned light rail transit system will cause pressures on Kitchener’s road system that would be amplified if Margaret remained closed.
“I think we can do it living within our means, postponing a few things,” he says.
“It’s the number-one priority. It’s a major arterial (road) that we have to get back into shape as possible. We have to keep as many streets open as we can.”
Rebuilding the bridge is expected to cost $6 million.
