Mayor Paul Klopp of the Municipality of Bluewater (Bob Montgomery photo)Mayor Paul Klopp of the Municipality of Bluewater (Bob Montgomery photo)
Midwestern

Local bridge project hoping to get support from Federal government

The Mayor of Bluewater says they're a little closer now to getting work done on the Airport Line bridge in South Huron.

Paul Klopp says the Province has said it's a priority for them and they're willing to put of their share of the two million dollar total cost. Now it's up to the Federal government to agree and come up with their share.

“The Ontario government has said that this is a priority and they send it up to the Federal government and they're right now reviewing it and if they decide it's a priority then we have the total funding and we go ahead. So it's sort of in limbo yet.”

If the Federal government says no, then the Provincial funding disappears as well.

Klopp adds the municipality has been putting money in reserves for the last few years to cover its share.

“Of a two million dollar bridge, we're putting in a little bit every year, so we're talking maybe about 380-thousand of taxpayers money locally. So it's a big chunk of change.”

He says if the Federal and Provincial funding isn't approved, the municipality might consider using some of that money for projects that are more urgent.

Klopp also points out the bridge is sound and safe to drive over. The problem isn't the structural integrity.

“I wanna be clear, it's safe to drive over, it's built well. It's just that the bridge is very narrow. And keep in mind it was built with a gravel road, it was never intended a paved road and it's now really becoming a secondary road for number four.”

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