West Montrose Covered Bridge Rehabilitation - Woolwich
This project supports the Region of Waterloo's strategic focus area(s):
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:
- Reducing the existing sag on the bridge
- Replacing the roof with new cedar shingles
- Replacing the red exterior wooden cladding
- Replacing the window louvres
- Removing the existing steel Bailey truss
- Reinstating the tar and chip wearing surface after replacement of the nail-laminated deck
- Replacing the steel hanger rods inside the bridge
- Replacing the roof rafters as necessary
- Replacing the tie beams, as necessary
- Replacing the wooden curbs
- Replacing the interior light bulbs, as necessary
- Replacing the needle beams with new 16” x 16” Douglas fir beams
- Replacing the floor beams with new 16” x 16” Douglas fir beams
- Stone mortar repairs and placement of scour protection at the bridge pier
- Replacing the external sway bracing
- Replacing the stringers with new sawn wood stringers
- Replacing the existing nail-laminated wooden deck
- Removing the Bailey truss hanger system
- Removing the non-functioning tension rods (1959)
- Replacing the bottom lateral bracing
- Replacing the bottom chords with new Douglas Fir chords
- Repairing the concrete at the bridge abutments
- Keeping the same bridge deck elevation and approach grades
- Adding a height restriction bar to prevent heavy vehicles from using the bridge
- Using fire retardant materials on the timber truss elements and exterior cladding
- Replacing the end diagonals at the pier and strengthening of the end diagonals at the abutments
- Adding new overhead wood lateral bracing
- Adding a new timber guiderail
- Reinforcing the top chord with the lower top chord
- 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.