Some of the most beautiful views in Huron County will be off limits this summer as the 118-year-old Menesetung Bridge will be closing, starting next month.
“We have been told by our engineers that we need to repair the piers, which are the structures that support this bridge. As a result, we have to close this bridge and, unfortunately, the thousands of people that use it, and there are thousands, will not be able to use it this summer,” said Menesetung Bridge Association Chair Marian Lane.
The 750-foot-long pedestrian bridge overlooking the Maitland River in Goderich will be closed from mid-April into September for needed repairs to the tops of the piers that support the 250-ton structure. The bridge supported trains from 1907 to 1988, before being saved from the wrecking ball and turned into a pedestrian bridge by local volunteers in 1992.
Lane said the work has to start this summer because they need to determine the extent of the deterioration at the top of the six piers supporting the trestle bridge, which was considered the largest rail bridge in Canada when it was constructed in 1907.
“If it gets in too deep, what happens is the whole bridge structure is destabilized. And that means our engineering report would not get passed, and we would have to close the bridge permanently,” said Lane.
Members of the Menesetung Bridge Association don’t want that, so they’ve spent the past couple years raising money for the intricate and unique concrete restoration work, which will cost $990,000 to complete.
They’ve raised $690,000 to cover the restoration work for the top of the bridge’s piers, but would like to raise the rest in order to restore the base of the piers this summer as well.
“If we can get another $300,000, then we are able to do the whole thing and get this iconic structure back to what everyone expects it to be,” said Donna Appavoo, director with the Menesetung Bridge Association.
The Menesetung Bridge isn’t some cute little bridge used by locals to get a better view of the vast Maitland River or Goderich salt mine; it is a tourist attraction. Last summer, more than 12,000 people used the bridge from June to September.
“At least half of those came from more 60 kilometres away, so people really find this a special spot to come and check out when they’re in this area,” said Appavoo.
The Menesetung Bridge closure is expected to start around April 14, and last for the next 16 to 20 weeks.
If they can’t raise the final $300,000 to work on the deteriorating pier bases, the famous pedestrian bridge may have to be closed again next summer.
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