‘SHIFT’ IN SILVER BRIDGE CAUSES ‘TEMPORARY’ CLOSURE OF BRACEBRIDGE ICON AS STRUCTURAL STUDY UNDERWAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — Time, cold and a shift in the Silver Bridge have led to a “temporary” closure of the town’s icon.

Vehicle and pedestrian traffic have been cut off as a precautionary measure following a review earlier this week.

A detailed structural assessment and investigation are now underway, says the District of Muskoka in a release Friday morning after closing the bridge yesterday.

The bridge, on Ecclestone Drive, crosses the north branch of the Muskoka River.

While clearing the snow and notified district staff who took a look and spotted a shift in the bridge that was not present when Silver Bridge was last inspected in November. Photos Mark Clairmont

During routine sidewalk maintenance, Town of Bracebridge operations staff identified “unusual issues” while clearing the snow and notified district staff who took a look and spotted a shift in the bridge that was not present when Silver Bridge was last inspected in November.

A senior structural engineer was brought in immediately to assess and recommend the next steps and to determine the cause of the sudden shift in the bridge.

“We are being proactive to reduce the load on the bridge and safeguard both the public and this iconic infrastructure,” said James Steele, commissioner of engineering and public works.

While the timeline for reopening the bridge remains uncertain, alternative routes, including Entrance Drive and Wellington Street, have been identified to minimize disruptions for those traveling to and from the Downtown area.

“We know how important this bridge is to the community and its history, and so we’ll make extra efforts to keep everyone informed as we learn more and work on repairs.”

This follows the lengthy and at times closure of Taylor Road just up the river for bridge repairs there.

The Silver Bridge, a town icon, will be temporarily closed while an inspection is done. The train bridge in foreground here next to it over the North Branch of the Muskoka River is not affected.

The district follows strict inspection protocols for all district owned bridges and culverts in line with the Canadian Highway Bridge Code and Ontario Ministry of Transportation. This follows as engineers working on the bridge rehabilitation design completed several visual inspections during 2024.

Traffic is being directed along Entrance Drive here and along Wellington Street.
Pedestrians, too, are restricted from using the Silver Bridge while the assessment is underway.
The bridge over the Muskoka River is one of two major entrances to downtown.
Ecclestone Drive, seen here last night, will be closed for safety reasons says the town and district, which will comment further this afternoon.
This north entrance closure to Manitoba Street is the second blow for merchants who had to endure months-long closures on Taylor Road this summer and fall.

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