By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Ferryland Mayor Aidan Costello.
Ferryland Mayor Aidan Costello says temporary repairs to a critical bridge are in place, but that planning continues on a long-term solution.
The Quarry River Bridge is owned by the Town and Costello said it started to sag and show signs of deterioration last year.
“Some of the steel beam sagged and twisted, making it unsafe for heavy traffic to travel across for local residents,” said Costello. “The bridge practically collapsed in November.”
Temporary repairs have since been made, including the addition of steel posts and beams and new timbers on the deck.
“The Town is currently working with engineers and government in the planning process of building a new bridge,” Costello said.
The mayor reported to council at its April 14 meeting that the Town has also received a permit and made arrangements to borrow an 8’x20’ culvert that will enable heavier emergency vehicles like fire trucks to pass.
The current temporary bridge is only for light traffic, but can accommodate ambulances.
The Town also has an application in to government to fund a new permanent bridge, said Costello.
“We are going to go with a new engineered bridge,” he said, adding the plans outline a 20-foot-long structure with a pressure treated deck similar to what was there.
Some councillors wondered if a new bridge is necessary with the culvert in place. Costello said he wondered that himself, but the engineer advised to proceed with a permanent structure based on factors like water volume.
“We paid them enough money to take their advice,” Costello said.
Councillor Kevin Walsh said he has been dealing with engineers for 40 years, and his concern is that they will try and grab every cent that they can get just to tell you water will run downhill.
“I’ve just seen so much money being wasted in so many places and in a small community you’re limited in the money that you can get and those guys want to clean out every cent that they can get out of it and leave you with nothing,” said Walsh of engineering consultants in general. “And then you’re for years and years fighting with the government to get more and more for them and you got a bunch of unhappy campers in our community, which are all citizens.”
Costello allowed council is not always happy with the process, but argued it’s a necessary one in order to get the grant money necessary to fund such projects.
“We have to get engineers involved to design anything,” he said. “Safety is a big issue, as you are aware, and we can’t just go it on our own.”
