Safety concerns regarding newly built Pearson Bridge

A newly built $1 million bridge connecting the Township of Wainfleet to the Township of West Lincoln has one resident worried about its safety.

The Pearson Bridge connects the two towns but loose and missing bolts on the structure are causing safety concerns.

“Well I was out here fishing over the edge of the bridge, behind us, and I looked down and I see a bunch of bolts that were not tight,” Wainfleet resident Ron Wiley says.

When Wiley was out on his local bridge on Boyle Road, which spans the Welland River, he noticed something a little off.

“I looked to my left, I see loose bolts, I see some with no nuts on them, holes where there were no bolts ever put on and then I looked the other way and I see nuts on bolts that should be tighter,” Wiley says.

According to West Lincolns’ website, it’s a joint project with the town of Wainfleet and has a total cost of $1.1 million.

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The work involved in the bridge rehabilitation included repair of the concrete deck, girders, abutments, conversion to semi-integral abutment, abutment bearing replacements, addition of an approach slab, guiderail installation, roadway approach works, and erosion control on the embankments.

The bridge reconstruction was completed in January 2024 but the website says it’s still under maintenance for another year.

There is still minor outstanding work to be completed, including some concrete finish repairs and general clean up, but the Town of West Lincoln says these items do not impact the safety of the bridge.

The bridge is currently open to traffic but Wiley hopes the loose and missing bolts will be replaced soon.

The town says they did reach out to their contractor Thursday afternoon when they heard and workers were sent to the bridge to tighten the bolts and check the others. There have been no safety issues identified at this time.

Regular inspections and maintenance will continue over the next year.