Toronto-based bridge manufacturer Acrow has announced that one of its modular steel bridges has recently opened to carry traffic over the Kettle Creek in the Township of Southwold.

The structure was installed as a permanent replacement for a structurally deficient bridge in the township, and previously served for three years as a temporary replacement for a damaged bridge some 30 kilometers away.

In February 2018, after heavy rains and flooding throughout the region, the Imperial Road Bridge in Port Bruce collapsed under the weight of a loaded dump truck. The crossing was the only direct route between the north and south sides of the town, and the resulting lengthy detour caused inconvenience and increased response times for emergency vehicles. Planning began immediately for a temporary solution to maintain traffic flow until the bridge could be rebuilt.

Acrow was awarded the contract to design and supply a modular steel structure to provide a detour downstream of the collapsed bridge. Assembled and installed in six weeks, the single-lane bridge was 54.8 metres long and 5.5 metres wide, with an epoxy aggregate deck and a CL-625 ONT Truck load rating.

As rebuilding of the bridge in Port Bruce neared completion, Elgin County decided to repurpose the modular structure for permanent replacement of the 120-year-old Meeks steel truss bridge, which had multiple structural deficiencies. Although a 2019 OSIM inspection report recommended rehabilitation of the bridge within 5 years and replacement within 10 years, the engineering consultant for the project determined repurposing the Acrow bridge from the Port Bruce location was the preferred alternative.

“This project was a great example of the versatility and durability of Acrow’s structures and the ability to seamlessly repurpose one bridge from one site – and one application – to another,” said Gordon Scott, Director of Operations and Sales, Acrow Canada. “High-strength, precision-engineered components along with ease of transport and rapid assembly makes our bridges ideal for both permanent and temporary applications.”

The bridge was designed and manufactured for a service life of between 75 and 100 years with minimal maintenance requirements.

Featured image: Acrow Bridge in Elgin County (CIMA+)