Aging Infrastructure Expensive Proposition for Municipalities

Aging Infrastructure Expensive Proposition for Municipalities

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Repairing and replacing aging infrastructure is an expensive proposition every municipality faces and Bridge File 1292 was up for discussion at the County of Two Hills April 21 meeting.

The bridge, located on Township Road 542 just east of Range Road 141, is in need of attention and will be a costly to replace or repair.

County of Two Hills Chief Administrative Officer, (CAO) Sally Dary said it will cost $2.1 million to replace. The county did receive $603,750 from Alberta Transportation through its Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program, (STIP).

A view below the bridge deck.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Back on July 15, 2020, the county received authority to proceed with construction and at the January 7, 2021, council agreed to proceed with tending of the project. Tenders closed on April 15, and now council will have to decide how to proceed.

The bridge was built in the early sixties. Councillor Soren Odegard said it’s “on its last legs” and is scheduled for replacement in 2022.

A close up of the bridge deck.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

CAO Dary said they could us the grant money to repair the bridge. Odegard said they could possibly limit the bridge to passenger traffic and post signage to use at your own risk. He said the majority of traffic on the bridge is truck traffic. Currently, the bridge has a maximum weight limit of three tonnes.

It will be discussed again by council at a future date.