A pedestrian ignores a sign alerting people that access to the pedestrian walkway on the Canadian Pacific Railway bridge south of the downtown core is closed - Date unknown Clifford Skarstedt.

13 April 2012

Pedestrian Bridge Repairs Could Begin in Fall

Peterborough Ontario - A city official says he's optimistic that construction of a new walkway along the Canadian Pacific Railway bridge, spanning the Otonabee River, will begin in the fall.
 
City planner Brian Buchardt said the city received a feasibility study last week from the consulting engineers on what it would take to rebuild the popular walkway, which was dismantled in January due to safety concerns.
 
He said he can't tell the public any details about the study until CPR engineers review it and meet with the city about how to proceed.
 
CPR has the final say on anything concerning its bridge and Buchardt says he doesn't want to jeopardize negotiations.
 
"But I am optimistic about a favourable outcome," Buchardt said.
 
"And I'm optimistic we will begin construction in the fall."
 
The walkway, which dates back to 1916, links Rogers Cove to the south end of the Rotary Greenway Trail.
 
Burchardt says he expects to meet with CPR officials soon.
 
"They are acutely aware of the importance of this project to the city," he said.
 
Peterborough Public Works closed the walkway 15 Nov 2011 after parts of its substructure detached from the girder, causing two long sections to slump.
 
City council immediately set aside $1 million for a potential new walkway, making last-minute changes to the 2012 capital budget.
 
The city announced in February it hired Sanchez Engineering Inc. for more than $20,000 to do a structural engineering assessment and design of a new walkway along with a cost estimate.
 
Elizabeth Bower.