The new bridge in Paisley is set to open to traffic Friday.
Bruce County and the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie will be celebrating with a ribbon cutting and a procession across the bridge on Bruce Road 3 which runs through the village’s downtown.
“I want to thank all the merchants of downtown Paisley. They’ve got a great downtown, lots of great little restaurants and shops there— to thank those store owners for their perseverance,” says Bruce County Warden Chris Peabody.
The Paisley Bridge replacement project started in May of 2022, and the County says the $10 million dollar project progressed on time and on budget.
Peabody notes $6 million came from the Canada Community Building Fund.
The new bridge allows for more river flow clearance, and will have a service life of about 75 years. The old Teeswater Bridge was built in 1935.
“The bridge will feature an extra-wide sidewalk, and it’s a great scenic location in downtown Paisley there, so it’s really going to be a nice asset for the downtown,” says Peabody.
Peabody says the temporary bridge connecting Goldie Street and Church Street is a rental, so it will be taken down as quickly as possible.
Everyone is invited to attend the grand opening ceremony, which will start at 2 p.m.
The next big bridge project for Bruce County is expected to be the Durham Street Bridge in Walkerton.