Abstract Manager

Bridge Street in the Town of Carleton Place serves as the main central business district and main thoroughfare in a picturesque, historic Town located near to Ottawa. It is where the community and tourists alike gather for parades, walking tours and community events.

The Central Bridge was constructed in 1928 and spans the Mississippi River over 65 meters in three spans. Facing ongoing deterioration and mounting structural issues, a detailed structural evaluation was carried out in 2017 which recommended full replacement of the bridge.

This situation presented both a challenge and an opportunity to tackle other planned works in Town. Like the Central Bridge, Bridge Street was also deteriorating and in dire need of a facelift. A third watermain crossing of the Mississippi River had also been under consideration for several years to increase redundancy and better secure the Town’s water supply in the face on ongoing growth. Considering that Central Bridge carries one of the two existing Town watermain crossings, the third crossing would be needed to be constructed to accommodate the bridge replacement. Another historic bridge, the Gillies Bridge was constructed in 1890 and in need of major rehabilitation. The proposed detour route during the Central Bridge replacement would add substantial traffic volumes to this bridge. An existing storm outfall on the north side of the bridge was releasing sediment into the river and increasing turbidity in the River.

Through extensive design collaboration, stakeholder consultation, community outreach and project delivery, R.V. Anderson and the Town of Carleton Place developed a complete construction program centered on the Bridge Street and included several “enabling works” which would address community needs while also ensuring the bridge replacement could be carried out while minimizing future disruptions to the community.  A community stakeholder group and the community as a whole were consulted through five Public Information Centers, where the goal was to ensure that disruption is minimized while also making the most of the opportunity to revitalize the town center.

The project included a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Schedule C), major bridge replacement, rehabilitation of second historic bridge, new watermain crossing on two bridge structures, major utility relocations, reconstruction of two roads including major urban streetscaping improvements to the central business district, improvements to a major storm outfall, and improved pedestrian connectivity through other minor works.

The environmental assessment, detailed design, utility relocations, enabling works and main construction project were all completed in early 2023 less than 5 years after project commencement and demonstrated cooperation between owner, consultant, constructor and stakeholders.