Save the span, says group
Cheryl Heath
Wednesday October 04, 2006

Just fix it.

That’s the rallying cry of neighbours of the historic Ball’s Bridge in light of the county’s decision to close access to the span, which has been serving as convenient passageway across the Maitland River since 1885.

Neighbouring property owner Lee Davids is shaking his head in disbelief over the county’s decision to close the double-span metal truss bridge since he was told by engineers recently inspecting the site that it was in excellent condition.

presentation to county council by a county staff member who pinpointed a number of problems with the bridge was misleading since some of the so-called trouble spots have explanations.

For one, says Davids, some of the spots identified as having missing nuts and bolts never had them there in the first place. An inspection of the bridge by long-time neighbouring residents revealed only two nuts are missing. He also says a photo showing a round hole on the bridge’s infrastructure is misleading because it is a drilled hole, and not one caused by rust.

Davids also questions why the county staff would note the 14-foot wide bridge, which until recently was posted as being capable of holding five tonnes, was never meant for heavy traffic since livestock and horses are quite hefty. A draft horse, for example, can weigh anywhere from 1,600 to 2,200 pounds.

He also notes an engineer’s 1985 survey of the bridge revealed it could sustain up to 32 tonnes of weight.
Davids questions the county’s contention that one of the guide cables at the bridge is in such poor condition that it might not be able to sustain a person’s body weight.

During a tour of the site with The News-Record, Davids pointed out that to go through it, a vehicle would have to come at it straight on, which is an unlikely maneuvre given the rail is in the middle of the structure.
Davids also points to the county engineer’s report as an eyebrow raiser as it says repairs could cost anywhere between $5,000 to $110,000, which is quite an eye-popping range.

While Davids doesn’t dispute the notion the bridge is in need of repair, notably in limestone rocks that are eroding on the east-end abutment, he does believe the county should take more of an interest in the structure, which is Huron County’s only officially recognized Heritage Bridge.

On a personal note, Davids says blocking off of the bridge has prevented area landowners from taking the short trip to the Auburn Coop or Londesboro.

He notes it is no small irony the county set up cement barriers at either end of the bridge with a tractor since if the bridge could collapse any day, one would question the wisdom behind having a county tractor cross the span.

As for the history of the bridge itself, it is a tale of love. The story has it that a county engineer fell in love with a girl he saw regularly crossing the river to deliver produce from her family’s farm to Goderich. To help her, he built this engineering marvel. The couple later married and moved to Michigan.
Davids, who admits to getting a little misty-eyed by the story even today, says it’s a shame that same county can’t honour the bridge by keeping it going and open as its founder had intended.
He adds neighbours aren’t keen on being given the bridge by the county since it would prove too much of a burden for an all-volunteer group to operate.

“It belongs to the county,” says Davids, who notes the county was told it would require $6,200 a year in maintenance in 1985, and it was the county’s decision not to stay on top of things. “To me, it’s more difficult for a group to sustain it than the county.”

He also questions the fairness of such a proposal given the county hasn’t paid much attention or care to it since 1985.

Davids suggests regular maintenance would have prevented the wear-and-tear that is present today.
“All we’re asking for is that this be restored to the point where passenger vehicles and light trucks can cross,” he says.

Keeping the bridge open for traffic is also the desire of neighbour Bill Seers.

“Without the bridge this corner here is just as isolated as Northern Ontario,” he says.

And Bill Crawford, who also owns property nearby, recently took out the weed cutter to clear away weeds that had been used by county staff to showcase problems with the site. Crawford says the bridge is popular not only with residents, but snowmobilers and visitors alike.

Sarnia residents Harvey and Gladys Elliott, who visited the bridge Tuesday after reading about its plight in an Ontario Farmer story, say it would be a shame if the county fails to maintain it.

“I think it’s really worthy of saving,” says Gladys. “It’s such a beautiful area.”

While The News-Record was on site, another couple of visitors came by, and too, the opportunity to speak with Davids and Crawford.

“Are they going to take the bridge out on you?” asked Stewart Knight, who as it turned out used to be an electrician known to the Crawford family as Bill delivered papers to the Knight home when he was a boy.
The Friends’ group is collecting signatures for a petition. The group also has a web site, www.friendsofballsbridge.com