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This bridge is one of the few known remaining riveted through truss bridges in Simcoe County, a county in Ontario covering a large land area. The bridge is an example of an unusual design of subdivided double-intersection Warren truss that is unusual outside of Ontario, but can be found in above average numbers in Ontario. The design is also distinguished by end posts with a shallow incline. The end post itself is subdivided, since it contains a vertical member which leads to a floor beam. In 2012, when HistoricBridges.org first documented this bridge, this bridge was one of two remaining bridges out of a group of three similar bridges, all identified as slated for demolition by Simcoe County. The third bridge was already demolished.
The Collingwood Street Bridge had an inscription on the abutment listing Dumond Contractors of Brentwood, Ontario as contractors. This refered only to the abutment contractor. The truss itself was built by the prolific Hamilton Bridge Company of Hamilton, Ontario.
This bridge is also noted for its unusually ornate cast iron railing end posts. This may indicate a greater attention to beauty given to a bridge built in a more urban location, rather than the rural locations that many other surviving examples of this style of bridge is located.
This bridge is a gateway between the community of Creemore and the rural lands outside. The bridge acts as a gateway and traffic calmer for high speed rural traffic entering Creemore. On the Creemore side of the bridge are numerous residential properties. The bridge also greatly enhances the beauty and culture of Creemore. There has been some community support for rehabilitating and preserving this heritage bridge. On the other side of the coin, the environmental assessment process provided a lot of misleading data, particularly the statement that a rehabilitated bridge would only last 25 years, while a replacement bridge would last 75 years. Assuming the rehabilitated bridge would receive routine maintenance and repair, such statements go against common sense. If this bridge were the recipient of a comprehensive rehabilitation and then maintained in the years to come, it should provide like-new service.
Above: Interpretive signage and portion of original railing placed after bridge was replaced. Photo Credit: Eric May. Click/tap for full-size photo.
Above: Original plaque on the bridge, which had been removed by the time HistoricBridges.org visited the bridge. Photo Credit: Eric May. Click/tap for full-size photo.
Ultimately, a compromise solution was reached for this bridge. The bridge was replaced, but the original trusses of the bridge were attached as decorations to the new bridge, with a newer and wider overhead bracing to accomodate the increased width of the new bridge. While not the best preservation solution, it is a good compromise because the original trusses were not scrapped and remain in place to be seen and enjoyed by the public, which is a positive outcome. Eric May provided these photos below showing the bridge as of October 2018. Click/tap for full-size photo.
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