Google Maps: The Confederation Bridge in June 2014
2015 was the last time the Confederation Drive Bridge was used, and seven years later its fate may have been determined.
A narrow vote was pushed through Smiths Falls council Monday night could see it replaced with a 2-Span Truss Pedestrian bridge, with no vehicular access.
This was the recommended option by town staff.
Councillor Chris McGuire successfully advocated to council to engage with Parks Canada first however, to see if there’s a willingness from them to engage in a cost-saving partnership to repair their own nearby bridge and add pedestrian and bicycle travel. This will be done prior to the design phase moving ahead.
Councillor Jennifer Miller pointed to previous engagements with Parks Canada have been slow going with delayed responses but voted in favour of the discussion in order to move the process along.
The decision was as close as they come, and ultimately four councillors voted for the pedestrian bridge, while three wanted to see a single-lane vehicular bridge with pedestrian access.
The finalized motion which passed read in part: “…the decision to replace the Confederation Drive bridge with a pedestrian bridge…to pursue opportunities with Parks Canada to enhance its current river crossing structure, that would permit pedestrian and bicycle crossing traffic as an option,” while also directing staff to pursue grant funding opportunities.
The estimated cost of a vehicle bridge was $2.4 million, a figure McGuire felt didn’t add up.
Councillor Jay Brennan scoffed at the cost objection, pointing to Lanark County’s recent decision to green light the replacement of the more rural Blakeney Bridge for $4.2 million. Brennan maintained his long-standing preference of a vehicular bridge with pedestrian access.
Mayor Shawn Pankow agreed with McGuire, openly questioning if the bridge should be considered critical infrastructure, referring to an earlier traffic report highlighting the average daily vehicle flow on the Confederation bridge was 200 cars.
The estimated cost of the pedestrian bridge is $1.22 million.
With air and noise pollution attached to vehicle use, Pankow questioned if that enhanced the quality of life for residents in what’s become a quiet area of the town.
In her remarks, councillor Dawn Quinn felt a vehicle bridge would add pop to the area, and entice tourists to explore Centennial Park and go further into the town, and councillor Stephen Robinson in part felt the enhanced traffic would benefit local businesses.
The recorded vote passed 4-3 in favour of the pedestrian bridge over a single-lane vehicle bridge with pedestrian access.
The hope is to have construction done by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
The motion, read in full:
Recorded Vote Results:
Yay – Chris McGuire, Peter McKenna, Jennifer Miller, Shawn Pankow
Nay – John Brennan, Stephen Robinson, Dawn Quinn
Story by Grant Deme
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