London, Ont. looks to stretch another 50 years out of bridge to the downtown
Time and the elements have taken their toll on the Kensington Bridge that carries cars, bikes, and pedestrians eastbound from Riverside Drive to Dundas Place.
Built in 1930, the heritage structure carries about 9,500 vehicles each day and serves as a vital ink to the core, according to downtown Coun. David Ferreira.
“That’s a lot of people commuting in and out of the downtown, whether it’s for work, or whether it’s to visit,” Ferreira explained.
Ongoing repairs and interim fixes will end when the city finalizes its plan for a long-term solution.
An environmental assessment (EA) has considered four options:
- Do nothing and continue ongoing maintenance
- Build a new bridge on the site of the existing bridge
- Build a new bridge next to the existing bridge
- Undertake an extensive repair and restoration
Rusting components are seen beneath the Kensington Bridge in London, Ont. on Feb. 8, 2023. (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)
City engineers recommend the fourth option, an extensive overhaul that will include a two-directional cycle track, new pedestrian railing and two eastbound vehicle lanes.
The design also aims to respect the heritage of the bridge.
A presentation to the Community Advisory Committee on Planning reads, “To address ongoing maintenance issues with the bridge and achieve an additional service life objective of 50 years, complete concrete deck replacement, steel recoating and other major repairs are required.”
First the bridge’s neighbouring span, the westbound Queens Avenue Bridge, must undergo work to prepare for its role in the project.
The proposed design of the Kensington Bridge in London, Ont. after restoration. (Source: City of London)
The city must ensure the Queens Avenue Bridge can handle additional traffic when it serves as a detour route during restoration of the Kensington Bridge.
“That [work] is going to be happening before the Kensington Bridge,” explained Ferreira. “I believe that’s in 2025 or 2026.”
A public information meeting will be held by the city on March 2.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.