LANCASTER – South Glengarry’s fire chief says a former railway bridge on the Peanut Line, which was burnt on Monday, will be submitted to the municipality’s insurance company.
In an interview with Cornwall Newswatch last night (Tuesday), Dave Robertson said SD&G O.P.P. were notified and conducted a preliminary investigation. Robertson didn’t know the results of that investigation as of last night.
The wooden decking in the bridge off County Road 23, southeast of the hamlet of Bridge End (Concession Road 5), was destroyed while the metal superstructure is still standing.
Robertson says they will have to find someone to do an assessment on the bridge.
“We will be having it inspected. We don’t have anyone in house with that ability. The old bridge was constructed with a metal superstructure with a wooden deck (and) wooden truss work through it. All the wood has been lost so there is only the steel superstructure left.”
Robertson told South Glengarry council a significant amount of the wooden deck was replaced within the last two years.
The fire chief says, with the section of trail area being a link between Ontario and Quebec, it will probably affect local tourism.
“It will significantly hinder operations of this winter’s snowmobile and ATV use on that trail. How that will be modified or the timeline for rebuild is just being assessed this week.”