Fwd: Andrewsville Bridge decision

[Fred Schueler]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Date: Wed, 3 May 2023 13:58:47 -0400
From: Andrewsville Bridge <savetheandre...@gmail.com>
To: Carol Hicks <hick...@gmail.com>

Friends and supports of the Andrewsville Bridge,

Last week, FAB committee presented before the Lanark County Council
Public Works Committee and we were successful in convincing an
*_unanimous decision to 'Save the Bridge'!_* Lanark has passed a motion
to replace the Andrewsville Bridge and asked for their staff to move
forward with the new EA process to evaluate detailed options. During the
April Council of the United Counties of Leeds Grenville, they passed a
motion to agree/support a decision made at Lanark County. The two
counties will split the cost. After many years of fighting to save this
bridge, we have a definite decision on preserving the crossing!

FAB committee has advocated for (what we believe is) the optimal
compromise of a new vehicular crossing that preserves the historic
features with fidelity, and with minimal environmental and community
impact. However, our main objective was convincing community leadership
to save the bridge, period. Moving forward we will continue to advocate
for your voices, the community members and supporters, to ensure bridge
replacement options consider our proposal details.

We would like to thank all the supporters who came out to Perth last
Wednesday for the Council meeting, either driving or on the bus. Filling
the Council chambers with passionate citizens showed the politicians how
much this matters to the community. Thank you for sacrificing your
Wednesday evening. You made a difference!

If you couldn’t make it, you can view Rory's presentation and the
discussion on the following link: https://fb.watch/kgNEVYJhFb/
<https://fb.watch/kgNEVYJhFb/> Our delegation starts at ~40m, and the
vote occurs ~1:56.

What was accomplished last Wednesday was built upon the sweat and tears
of many, over a long period. We want to thank those who fought this
fight over the last 15+ years - Jocelyn and Alec Rait, Val and Byron
Morris, Jane Anne McIntyre, Tom and Polly Beach, Margo Allen and our
many others volunteers that handed out fliers, made phone calls, wrote
letters and emails, put up signs etc. We would like to thank Bill
Dobson, who has worked both  while on council and behind the scenes to
lobby support. We thank the politicians who were active participants in
this process, supporting and pushing the issue forward on our behalf:
Montague's Reeve Karen Jennings and Deputy Reeve Jeff Carrol, Tay
Valley’s Reeve Rob Rainer as well as Merrickville's Mayor Michael
Cameron. Thank you!  And of course Rory Blaisdell who has worked
countless hours on research, presentations, and lobbying efforts to get
the best solution for all. Thank you as well to the ATV clubs who
stepped up to join us advocating for the bridge and presenting a
delegation at council.

Unfortunately this news is bittersweet ,as we share with you the status
of the bridge for the 2023 opening season. Prior to the scheduled
opening on April 1st, public works performed a load testing on the
bridge which FAB attended. While the bridge structure itself held up
well to the 11ton test load, the engineers were concerned with high
water flow under the stone causeway. Many residents have remarked that
this spring melting runoff flow pattern was normal and just 2 weeks
later has significantly decreased. Unfortunately, Lanark County had to
involve their insurance company in the decision to re-open to vehicles
this year. Due to the causeway’s stability risks the bridge must remain
closed, until a geotechnical engineer can sign off on the safety of the
wall. The good news is that Lanark will pursue a geotechnical study
anyway for the purposes of bridge replacement, so this extra step will
contribute both to a short term opening and long term solution for the
bridge. The bridge is supposed to remain open to pedestrians in the
meantime, though we are aware of a few hiccups coordinating the two
counties and Parks Canada; we are advocating for solutions. We know the
decision to delay opening this spring is not ideal for the community,
but we want you to know the Friends of the Andrewsville Bridge will be
pushing Lanark and UCLG to get the bridge reopened until replacement
construction starts. We will not let this bridge be forgotten!


Thank you for your support over the years and in this recent campaign.

FAB Committee
Val M, Carol H, Rory B, Dave & Christine D, Karen C, John M, John A,
Tony & Shelley I


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_______________________________
Friends of Andrewsville Bridge (FAB)
savetheandre...@gmail.com
<mailto:savetheandre...@gmail.com>

Carol, Rory, David, Val

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Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad
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