District council has approved a major contract to complete long-awaited repair and rehabilitation work on the Silver Bridge and Pre-Muskoka Bridge, ending months of debate over the future of one of Bracebridge’s most important transportation links.
Earlier this week, council voted 15–6 to award the balance of the repair and rehabilitation project to Clearwater Structures Inc. for up to $2.4 M. When combined with the emergency repair work already awarded, the total contract value will be up to $6.2 M. In addition to the construction contract award, other costs such as design support, contract administration and inspection, in-house expenditures, contingency allowances, and non-rebatable HST are anticipated, with a total budget for the work of $7.5.
The Silver Bridge, located on Ecclestone Drive in Bracebridge, was originally constructed in 1929. It is a three-span steel through-truss bridge with a concrete deck and sidewalk and an asphalt driving surface. Access to the bridge is supported by two approach structures—a partial deck-truss bridge and a large concrete retaining wall—both built in 1955 and collectively known as the Pre-Muskoka Bridge.
Through the District’s legislated bi-annual bridge inspection program, both bridges had already been identified as needing rehabilitation to preserve critical structural components and maintain their intended service life.
While inspections, planning, and design work were underway, a significant structural failure occurred on the eastern truss of the Silver Bridge, forcing the immediate closure of the bridge and roadway. The sudden failure halted the planned rehabilitation while engineers conducted detailed analysis to determine the cause and identify options to safely restore the structure.
The project sparked significant debate at council, with some members questioning both the cost and the need to rehabilitate the historic structure.
Muskoka Lakes Mayor Peter Kelley removed the reconstruction of the Silver Bridge from the District agenda earlier in the process, prompting renewed discussion.
Muskoka Lakes Councillor Guy Burry said he repeatedly asked staff to explore lower-cost alternatives, including replacing the bridge with a pre-cast concrete slab. Burry said he believed this could be done for between $1.5 and $3 million.
Burry also questioned whether the Silver Bridge should be a district responsibility. “I haven’t noticed the difference since it’s been gone,” he said. “I don’t live in Bracebridge, but I’ve been around.”
Staff, however, disputed those figures. James Steele, Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works, told council that all district estimates for replacement were significantly higher than $1.5 million and reiterated that rehabilitation remained the most viable option.
Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney strongly defended the importance of the bridge to the community, describing the closure as deeply disruptive.
“Having the bridge not operational in our community for almost a year now has been nothing but challenging—almost disastrous—to get around Bracebridge,” Maloney said. “I would encourage any councillor who has not experienced that to please drive around with me this summer while they are still working on the bridge.”
Staff emphasized that the cost includes work on two bridges, noting that the Pre-Muskoka Bridge is essential for accessing the Silver Bridge.
Councillor Don Smith said council had reached a critical decision point.
“The $5 million was approved on the existing bridge project. It’s difficult to understand, but there are two bridges there—and it does make sense to do all of those pieces at the same time,” he said.
Smith added that residents continue to seek answers.
“I get calls almost every day from people wondering when the Silver Bridge is going to be repaired. If we delay, it will likely push it to 2027.”
Staff confirmed the Silver Bridge and Pre-Muskoka Bridge projects were included in the District’s capital plan even before the structural failure occurred and stated that construction is expected to be completed by this time next year.
In a recorded vote the motion passed 15-6.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
As a Bracebridge resident for the last 20 years, I think that preserving the existing bridge is crazy when a cheaper replacement cost is available. I don’t care about preserving history. I care about the cost to me and other tax payers.
There comes a time when, for all things, a complete and modern replacement is the best long term solution.
Granted there is a visual history to the Silver Bridge and it does look sort of characteristic of small town Ontario (50 years ago).
Bridge technology has advanced however and the cost to somehow “make right and better” the existing structure may well be money more of less wasted.
Perhaps, a new bridge structure made out of better structural materials that can withstand the road salt better and maybe accommodate larger loads, have larger sidewalks and things of this nature is the best way to go.
Perhaps, also, the old bridge superstructure, the iconic steel truss above the road, could be kept, modified and added as a sort of “non structural” (call it “decorative”) embellishment to top off the new bridge, thus keeping a lot of the history and look of the old bridge but gaining a new, longer lived and more capable bridge underneath it all.
If there is a significant amount of local support for the history of this bridge area, maybe a voluntary sort of “fund me” program could cover most of the cost of keeping and replacing the old bridge parts to retain the look of the original bridge and the regular District funding could just go ahead with the modern replacement of the bridge with a brand new design that will cost less to maintain for a longer time frame than trying to rehabilitate the old bridge. This could be the best of both concepts.