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Midwestern

Celebrating West Grey's Heritage Walkway Bridge

A celebration marked the restoration of West Grey's Heritage Walkway Bridge which provides a pedestrian crossing over the Saugeen River in downtown Durham.

Mayor Kevin Eccles says the timber bridge construction model is a fitting solution to restoring the community landmark.

The walkway bridge was restored using timber bridge construction by Timber Restoration Services of Moncton New Brunswick.  The structure was built in New Brunswick piece-by-piece then reassembled in Durham.

Project costs totalled $560,000, including the restoration and extended use of the substructure--meaning the restored Durham Railway Bridge cost the community half the cost of a steel bridge.

Dr. Dan Tingley, senior engineer/wood technologist and executive director at Wood Research and Development says they were able to save and reuse many of the century-old original elements of the original railway bridge.

Tingley also utilized some century-old elements from the bridge that were completely decayed to teach students how to retrofit and restore old timber beams at a Level II certified course in Timber Bridge Inspection, Restoration, Maintenance and Design held in Oregon in February 2018.

“I am passionate about wooden bridges – for their durability, their aesthetics and the fact that they seamlessly blend with nature and rural communities,” said Tingley. “I am thrilled to celebrate the revitalization of this magnificent structure. I congratulate West Grey for investing in this solution and giving this bridge another hundred years of life while preserving its heritage and the many memories.”

According to the Canadian Wood Council, timber bridges “are an excellent way to showcase the strength and durability of wood structures, even under harsh conditions” and are an effective solution for bridges that span fast rivers or deep gorges.

On April 25, Mayor Kevin Eccles, members of West Grey Council and staff, invited guests and the public celebrated the grand re-opening of the Heritage Walkway Bridge.

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