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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2009-01-21, Page 17News The Huron Expositor • January 21, 2009 `Pags'9'7 Low-Ievelbridge a safety concern to truck drivers Dan Schwab A bridge too low provedto be a hot topic at Huron County council's Jan. 7 session; The low-level railway bridge locat- ed on County Road 13, at the edge of Clinton, has long been the bane of truckers who failed to heed the warning signs about its height re- striction. It is an issue, says Councilor John Bezaire (Central Huron), in need of addressing. Just who is responsible for picking up that tab for fixing the Goderich Exeter Railway Overpass had other councilors gnashing their teeth at the idea, particularly since there was some consensus the railway should be on board to pick up part of the cost. Bezaire argues the railway bridge, as it stands, is a hindrance to de- velopment in the area, as well as a safety concern to truckers. Indeed, a history of the spot shows the Huron County OPP first contact- ed the county about truck -related accidents at the spot in 1991. At the time, warning signs, outlining the bridge's height restrictions, were posted on Highway 21. However, the crashes continue. In 2001, the county applied for - and was rejected - for one-time provincial funding to remove the bridge and create a level crossing. Bezaire says since federal and pro- vincial -level governments are prom- ising more money for infrastructure funding, now is the time to investi- gate options. By agreeing to have county staff in- vestigate.that, "we, at least keep the door open to try and do something there, said Bezaire. Dave Laurie, the county's act- ing director of public works, says while the railway bridge is privately owned, the county has been looking at options that do not involve touch- ing the bridge. One option, he says, is lowering the road. Bezaire notes that such a plan could draw financial support from private partners and, possibly, the Municipality of Central Huron. "I would hope the county would participate if a solution could be HILDEBRAND PAINT &PAPER Call Doug for all of your painting and wallpapering needs Seaforth 519.527-0058 (519) 525-6078 found," said Bezaire. ties, the most of which being in Hu- Coun. Bill Dowson (Bluewater) ron East. says he'd only support a plan involv- "Now we're being asked to pay mil- ing the railway. lions for this bridge due to the truck - "It's their bridge. It's their prob- ers not reading the signs," he said. lem," he says. In the end, a recorded vote proved Coun. Bill Siemon (Huron East) council was 15-4 in favour of having questioned why county dollars would the county -roads department inves- be used to address a bridge issue tigate the options available for fixing when a number of bridges have been the long -serving bane of truckers' ex - downloaded to lower -tier municipali- istence. Time to make wise investments From Page 16 - McQuail says now is the time to make wise investments in energy ef- ficiency and renewable energy and reducing our dependency and use of non-renewable fuels. McQuail says the news wasn't all doom and gloom. "But the message is we're not going to have the kind of energy that we've gotten used to over the last one hun- dred years and certainly, for most of our life times we've lived with an ever-increasing flow of energy into our economy and into our lives," says • McQuail, "and it's done some good things but it's also sort of withered away a number of good things in terms of human activity and strong local communities, so this is an op- portunity to address this problem in a way that could be very positive for us as societies, if we get going on it." 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