Councillors in Huron-Kinloss are trying to decide what to do about bridges on rural side roads that need repair, or replacement.
Council has received a report from engineers about the feasibility of closing bridges instead of replacing them.
One of the bridges in question is the Purple Grove Bridge.
Councillor Anne Eadie says a look needs to be taken at how necessary it, and other bridges are, especially in areas where there is very little traffic.
She says bridges should only be kept open if the cost of repairing or replacing them is reasonable.
Eadie says they decided to defer work on the Purple Grove bridge until next year to see if another engineer’s report places a higher priority on working on other bridges.
She says culverts aren’t an option because of regulations meant to protect fish habitat.
Eadie says regulations are made by bureaucrats who don’t actually have to spend the money.
She says spending up to 400 thousand dollars to repair a side road bridge is not easy to do when others on concession roads need repair.
Eadie says it’s overwhelming to maintain the cost of looking after all side road bridges, and council will set its priorities when next year’s bridge report is released.
