The Provincial and Federal governments dropped a couple of million dollars in northern Wellington County Monday.
The Town of Minto got $1,000,000 to help with the rebuild of Elora Street, the main street through the downtown of Harriston.
Wellington North received $1,000,000 to help pay for repairs to the Highway 6 bridge at the south end of Mount Forest known as the Constable Rick Hopkins Memorial Bridge.
Minto Mayor George Bridge calls it a great opportunity as the money will be a big help for the $2.27-million in upgrades to Harriston’s main street. Before the announcement, Minto was looking at being on the hook for almost $1.5 million. Wellington County is contributing $800,000 because it is a county road. Wellington North had been wondering for some time if it would get the money to rebuild the ailing Highway 6 bridge at the south end of Mount Forest. The announcement of federal and provincial grants totaling $1-million will take a cut into the $1.5-million in needed work on the bridge, which includes structural and safety upgrades. Wellington North will now be responsible for about $500,000.
"For Wellington North to take on a project of this size is really quite overwhelming. But with federal and provincial assistance it makes it possible to proceed with this on a timely basis," Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox said.
The bridge work is expected to go to tender over the winter with work going ahead in 2016.
Harriston main street under reconstruction (By Campbell Cork)
Cst. Rick Hopkins Memorial Bridge, Mount Forest (By Campbell Cork)