Background
Upon advice from CN, HRM is implementing weight restrictions on five bridges over the rail cut in the South End of Halifax. The restrictions, which take effect October 29, are necessary to protect the structures until they can be restored and/or replaced. They are similar to weight restrictions that came into effect on the Quinpool Road bridge in July.
In addition to the posted weight restrictions, each of the bridges will be fitted with barricades to protect the concrete side walls from vehicle impacts. Longer term plans to repair and/or replace each of these bridges are not yet in place and continue to be a focus of discussion between HRM and CN, as do costs and responsibility for this work.
The bridges, all built between 1915 and 1917 include: South Street, Coburg Road, Oakland Road, Belmont-on-the-Arm, and Marlborough Woods. Belmont-on-the-Arm and Marlborough Woods bridges are the only access points to the neighbourhoods on the other side of the rail cut.
The following questions and answers are intended to be of assistance in responding to concerns from the public.
Questions and Answers
Q. Are the bridges safe?
A. Work is being performed to keep the bridges in safe operating condition. In addition to the posted weight restrictions, each bridge will be fitted with barricades to protect its concrete sidewalls from vehicle impacts and new asphalt surfaces will be laid to provide a smooth riding surface to prevent abrupt vehicle impacts.
The new asphalt also creates an impermeable surface to prevent infiltration of water to the bridge deck.
CN has committed to a frequent and rigorous inspection program for each of these bridges and will inform HRM if there is any deterioration in their condition.
Q. Who is responsible for these bridges? Does CN or HRM own them?
A. HRM considers CN to be the owner of these bridges and has a maintenance agreement with CN for their upkeep. HRM is the road authority and has responsibility for the road over the bridges from a traffic planning perspective a traffic planning when work is done to the bridges, and for posting the weight restrictions as per CN’s direction.
Q. CN and HRM appear to have differing views on ownership. Has this debate resulted in a lack of due diligence for the inspection of these bridges and will it prevent work from being undertaken to repair/replace these structures?
A. Yes, ownership is a point of discussion between HRM and CN, but we are working together to take immediate safety measures on these bridges while we continue to determine the appropriate longer term measures. We continue to work together to take the appropriate steps in the interest of safety while discussions around ownership continues.
Q. Have the bridges become unsafe while CN and HRM debate ownership and cost responsibility?
A. CN has an infrastructure maintenance and inspection program under which these bridges are inspected at least once a year. These inspections raised concerns that caused CN to commission an outside engineering assessment which is the basis of the work now being done.
Q. What happens next with these bridges?
A. A further analysis of the assessment report will determine the next steps to be taken with each of these structures. We may be looking at a combination of repairs and replacements but it is too early to say what will be done for each crossing and on what schedule.
Q. What does the report say?
A. CN and HRM are analyzing the assessment report and are in discussions. We are not in a position to discuss specifics at this point.
Q. When can the public see the report?
A. The engineering assessment was conducted for CN, a private company, and provided to HRM. A Freedom of Information request can be made to HRM for the report.
Q. Are residents and drivers informed of everything they need to know to be safe?
A. We are committed to keeping the public informed at each step of the way while HRM works with CN to keep these bridges safe first with interim measures and then with a longer term approach.
Q. Should people be afraid to cross these bridges?
A. The measures that CN and HRM have taken will help protect the bridges from excessive weights and from any collisions to the concrete sidewalls. The engineering assessment did not recommend measures to prevent cars and other vehicles with lower weights from crossing.
Q. There are 12 bridges over the rail cut, so why is there an outside engineering assessment on only six of them?
A. These are the bridges that showed particular concerns through regular CN inspections. Regular inspections continue on all CN bridges in HRM.
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