Smiths Falls council is moving ahead with the Beckwith Street Bridge rehabilitation while taking extra time to study safety improvements at the adjacent Beckwith and Lombard intersection.
During the July 27 committee of the whole meeting, council unanimously endorsed recommendations from the Accessibility Advisory Committee, directing staff to undertake a more comprehensive review of the intersection to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and people using mobility devices before final design work is completed.
Mayor Shawn Pankow said the committee’s recommendations reflected concerns raised during a previous presentation and should guide the next phase of the project.
“I think we’re all committed to ensuring we can provide the safest environment possible for citizens who are using that intersection,” Pankow said.
He noted about 20 per cent of residents rely on walking, cycling or mobility devices to get around town and said the project presents an opportunity to make lasting improvements for all users.
“We want to make sure we’re accommodating everyone,” he said.
CAO Malcolm Morris told council the town has already received a proposal from its engineering consultant to expand the intersection study.
While council previously approved about $25,000 for a review of the channelized right-turn lane, the broader analysis and preliminary design for the entire intersection is expected to cost between $55,000 and $60,000.
Morris recommended staying with the consultant already working on the bridge project rather than issuing a new request for proposals, saying doing so would avoid delays because the consultant is already familiar with the site.
He stressed the bridge rehabilitation should continue on schedule because construction is limited by the Rideau Canal navigation season.
Coun. Jennifer Miller agreed the projects should move forward separately.
“I’d much rather go ahead with the existing work that we have the funding for and do the study,” Miller said. “We’re not going to do this again anytime soon, so let’s just make sure we do it right.”
Morris said staff are also exploring whether the expanded intersection work could qualify for additional Connecting Links funding through a future provincial intake, (coming in the next one or two weeks) rather than relying entirely on municipal funding.
Traffic data collection at the intersection is already underway to support the feasibility study. Once the analysis is complete, council will decide whether to proceed with a full redesign and seek additional funding before final design work begins.
The bridge rehabilitation contract has already been tendered, with bids closing Aug. 14. Because the intersection improvements were included as a provisional item, council will have the flexibility to remove that portion of the work if it chooses to pursue it as a separate project.
RELATED:
- Safety concerns prompt delay in Beckwith Street bridge decision
- Safety concerns prompt deeper review of Beckwith Street bridge intersection
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