The Municipality of Machin is hoping to begin work on repairing the Eagle River (Cascade) bridge in the next couple of weeks.
The bridge has moved on the east end and is barely hanging on and two big beams are showing signs of rot and need to be replaced.
Mayor Gord Griffiths says it’s a big project as they must dig everything out, straighten the abutments up, replace some material and completely reposition the bridge again.
Tenders for the project closed Wednesday night and Griffiths believes the contractor will be selected in the next couple of days.
“Talking to some potential contractors it seemed like they might be able to get at it fairly soon. I would like to be optimistic that by the middle of September we’ll be back in business.”
He notes that’s a hopeful projection and warns the bridge may have to be fully closed for a couple of weeks during construction.
Griffiths says the cause isn’t known but he has is suspicions.
“When we rebuilt Town Line Road there was a lot of gravel hauled from the Dryden area and I’m wondering as the heavy loads went out onto the bridge coming from the east, if that had any bearing on starting to cause the shift.”
Griffiths also believes recent heavy rainstorms may have also played a factor.
The bridge is considered a lifeline to members of the community including those living and working along Town Line, Temple Bay and Detour Point road areas.
Limiting access results in lengthy detours in the area.
