West Montrose Covered Bridge Rehabilitation - Woolwich

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This project supports the Region of Waterloo's strategic focus area(s):

West Montrose Bridge in Woolwich

The Region of Waterloo is looking to rehabilitate the West Montrose Covered Bridge in the Township of Woolwich through a major structural upgrade.

The project will follow a Schedule “C" Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, and stems from long-term monitoring and evaluation of the load-carrying capacity of the bridge.

The preferred rehabilitation alternative for the West Montrose Covered Bridge has been revised since the public consultation #2, following a detailed inspection and evaluation of the timber truss. The detailed inspection provided recommendations for the timber truss elements that require replacement due to deteriorated conditions. Six rehabilitation alternatives were reviewed against a set of evaluation criteria including heritage, structural, social environment and cost criteria to recommend an updated preferred alternative. The preferred alternative includes reinforcing the timber truss to accommodate a design vehicular live load of 10 tonnes. The 3-tonne posted load limit will be maintained.

Preferred Rehabilitation Alternative

The preferred rehabilitation alternative proposes the following:

  1. Reducing the existing sag on the bridge
  2. Replacing the roof with new cedar shingles
  3. Replacing the red exterior wooden cladding
  4. Replacing the window louvres
  5. Removing the existing steel Bailey truss
  6. Reinstating the tar and chip wearing surface after replacement of the nail-laminated deck
  7. Replacing the steel hanger rods inside the bridge
  8. Replacing the roof rafters as necessary
  9. Replacing the tie beams, as necessary
  10. Replacing the wooden curbs
  11. Replacing the interior light bulbs, as necessary
  12. Replacing the needle beams with new 16” x 16” Douglas fir beams
  13. Replacing the floor beams with new 16” x 16” Douglas fir beams
  14. Stone mortar repairs and placement of scour protection at the bridge pier
  15. Replacing the external sway bracing
  16. Replacing the stringers with new sawn wood stringers
  17. Replacing the existing nail-laminated wooden deck
  18. Removing the Bailey truss hanger system
  19. Removing the non-functioning tension rods (1959)
  20. Replacing the bottom lateral bracing
  21. Replacing the bottom chords with new Douglas Fir chords
  22. Repairing the concrete at the bridge abutments
  23. Keeping the same bridge deck elevation and approach grades
  24. Adding a height restriction bar to prevent heavy vehicles from using the bridge
  25. Using fire retardant materials on the timber truss elements and exterior cladding
  26. Replacing the end diagonals at the pier and strengthening of the end diagonals at the abutments
  27. Adding new overhead wood lateral bracing
  28. Adding a new timber guiderail
  29. Reinforcing the top chord with the lower top chord
  30. Removing the interior cladding and reinstatement in short sections at each end of the bridge

Items #1 to #25 are common to all of the alternatives that were considered. Items #26 to #30 are specific to the Preferred Alternative C2 – wooden truss repairs to a 10 tonne load limit.

Documents

The Preferred Alternative renderings can be found under the Public Consultation #3 folder to the right. A summary of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and responses to comments received during the public consultation can be found on the right.

This project supports the Region of Waterloo's strategic focus area(s):

West Montrose Bridge in Woolwich

The Region of Waterloo is looking to rehabilitate the West Montrose Covered Bridge in the Township of Woolwich through a major structural upgrade.

The project will follow a Schedule “C" Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, and stems from long-term monitoring and evaluation of the load-carrying capacity of the bridge.

The preferred rehabilitation alternative for the West Montrose Covered Bridge has been revised since the public consultation #2, following a detailed inspection and evaluation of the timber truss. The detailed inspection provided recommendations for the timber truss elements that require replacement due to deteriorated conditions. Six rehabilitation alternatives were reviewed against a set of evaluation criteria including heritage, structural, social environment and cost criteria to recommend an updated preferred alternative. The preferred alternative includes reinforcing the timber truss to accommodate a design vehicular live load of 10 tonnes. The 3-tonne posted load limit will be maintained.

Preferred Rehabilitation Alternative

The preferred rehabilitation alternative proposes the following:

  1. Reducing the existing sag on the bridge
  2. Replacing the roof with new cedar shingles
  3. Replacing the red exterior wooden cladding
  4. Replacing the window louvres
  5. Removing the existing steel Bailey truss
  6. Reinstating the tar and chip wearing surface after replacement of the nail-laminated deck
  7. Replacing the steel hanger rods inside the bridge
  8. Replacing the roof rafters as necessary
  9. Replacing the tie beams, as necessary
  10. Replacing the wooden curbs
  11. Replacing the interior light bulbs, as necessary
  12. Replacing the needle beams with new 16” x 16” Douglas fir beams
  13. Replacing the floor beams with new 16” x 16” Douglas fir beams
  14. Stone mortar repairs and placement of scour protection at the bridge pier
  15. Replacing the external sway bracing
  16. Replacing the stringers with new sawn wood stringers
  17. Replacing the existing nail-laminated wooden deck
  18. Removing the Bailey truss hanger system
  19. Removing the non-functioning tension rods (1959)
  20. Replacing the bottom lateral bracing
  21. Replacing the bottom chords with new Douglas Fir chords
  22. Repairing the concrete at the bridge abutments
  23. Keeping the same bridge deck elevation and approach grades
  24. Adding a height restriction bar to prevent heavy vehicles from using the bridge
  25. Using fire retardant materials on the timber truss elements and exterior cladding
  26. Replacing the end diagonals at the pier and strengthening of the end diagonals at the abutments
  27. Adding new overhead wood lateral bracing
  28. Adding a new timber guiderail
  29. Reinforcing the top chord with the lower top chord
  30. Removing the interior cladding and reinstatement in short sections at each end of the bridge

Items #1 to #25 are common to all of the alternatives that were considered. Items #26 to #30 are specific to the Preferred Alternative C2 – wooden truss repairs to a 10 tonne load limit.

Documents

The Preferred Alternative renderings can be found under the Public Consultation #3 folder to the right. A summary of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and responses to comments received during the public consultation can be found on the right.

  • Project Updates - January 2024

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    Planning and Works Committee Meeting

    Thanks to everyone who shared their comments and ideas on the proposed rehabilitation design for the West Montrose Covered Bridge. We will be taking the Recommended Design Concept to the Region’s Planning and Works Committee meeting on February 6, 2024 for final approval. The approval report can be found at this link.

    Recommended design concept

    The recommended design was the outcome of the technical studies conducted, a detailed alternatives assessment based on a set of evaluation criteria, and public input from three rounds of public engagement in October 2021, June 2022 and November 2023.

    The Recommended Design Concept includes removal of the existing steel Bailey trusses, replacement of deteriorated wooden truss members and bridge elements, and reinforcing select members to accommodate a 10-tonne design vehicular live load. The three-tonne posted load limit will be maintained. To prevent oversized vehicles from accessing and damaging the bridge, an overhead height restriction bar is proposed on the north approach of the bridge.

    The recommended design addresses public concerns we heard such as the need for replacement truss members to be entirely with new wood members. The project team also revised the recommended design to include narrowing the road on the south approach of the bridge by moving the wooden guiderails closer to each other in order to eliminate the need for the height restriction bar on the south approach (see link to concept of this).

    Based on the public feedback received, the project team is not recommending a restriction of all motorized vehicles on the bridge at this time.

    Following Regional Council approval of the recommended design concept, the Environmental Study Report for this Schedule ‘C’ Class Environmental Assessment will be filed for a 30-day review period. Construction is expected to start in 2025 and be completed in 2026 pending Regional Council approval.

Page last updated: 01 Feb 2024, 01:56 PM