Belleville city hall (File photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
The first step in a major rehabilitation of one of Belleville’s downtown bridges is underway.
Two inspections over the last three years have shown major concerns about the condition of the Sagonaska Bridge which carries Pinnacle Street over the Moira River.
Inspections in 2014 and 2016 showed “extensive delamination of the underside of the girders at the abutments, asphalt wearing surface, and concerns about the condition of the joints.
A report by Director of Finance Brian Cousins says it’s not possible to accurately estimate the rehabilitation costs until detailed design work is done but it could be in the range of $1.5 million.
Belleville has decided to apply for $175,000 in funding through the provincial Connecting Links program for for the design work.
Connecting links are municipal roads or bridges that connect two ends of a provincial highway through a community to a border crossing.
This program funding covers up to 90% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $3 million.
Cousins says it is hoped that design work could be completed next year with construction in 2019.
