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South Bruce Peninsula will seek online public engagement to help determine the best course of action for the Jewel Bridge in Sauble Beach.
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The Jewel Bridge crosses the Sauble River, connecting Spring Creek Road from the east to Jewel Bridge Road and the Sauble Beach townsite.
According to a public notice, deterioration of the bridge’s concrete abutments and soffit has led to a five-tonne posted load limit. With no intervention, the bridge will continue to deteriorate leading to further load restrictions and closure.
The town is proceeding with a Schedule B Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study to consider and address the impacts associated with the proposed improvements.
The town has identified and listed potential “solutions” in its public notice, including doing nothing, permanently closing and removing the existing bridge, rerouting traffic along an unopened road allowance between 6th Street North and Spring Creek Road, rehabilitating the existing bridge, replacing the existing bridge with a new single-lane bridge, or replacing the existing bridge with a new two-lane bridge.
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The town said these are preliminary option only, and that upon receipt of agency and public comments, the alternatives will be further evaluated and a preferred solution will be recommended by staff for review and council endorsement.
South Bruce Peninsula’s Open Mic webpage will host the online public engagement forum for the project, beginning June 21.
On the Open Mic page, interested members of the public, Indigenous communities, and agencies will have an opportunity to view a presentation describing the study starting Friday and ask questions of the project team, as well as provide comments on the project and the proposed alternative solutions.
Questions and comments can also be submitted to the project team via email to Brianna Collins (brianna.collins@southbrucepeninsula.com), director of public works, and Emma Wilkinson (ewilkinson@tathameng.com), project manager.
The comment period will be open for three weeks.
Alternatively, an in-person meeting with the town can be scheduled for the week of July 8, 2024.
Residents are asked to submit comments and questions by Friday, July 12, 2024.
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