Repairs may close May Street

If the city’s engineering department has its way, navigating one of Thunder Bay’s major cross-town arteries could prove to be a nightmare in a month or so.

Pat Mauro, manager of engineering in the city’s transportation and works department, on Wednesday said on April 12 he will recommend that council approve a plan to shut down the May Street Bridge completely while a $1.3 million rebuild is completed.

Mauro said unlike similar repairs made last summer on Balmoral Street, space issues makes a partial closure at the May Street location a poor second choice.

"The work site provides for a very congested area, a very tight area. In terms of traffic co-ordination, we would find it very difficult to co-ordinate traffic through there, especially with the proximity of the intersections at Northern and Southern avenues," Mauro said.

"So we’re examining the possibility of closing the bridge completely during construction."

The idea isn’t without precedent.

In 2007 a portion of May Street was closed at its southern end, near City Hall, as repairs were made.

That said, at least one councillor would like to see all avenues examined before any decision is made.

"I know it was slightly different because it was repairs, but we did the two-lane thing for the bridge on the Harbour Expressway and on Balmoral (Street), and it seemed to work well. And the repair of May Street last summer, by the CLE, used the two-lane concept, so I would like to see why we cannot (do that again)," Coun.-at-large Larry Hebert said Wednesday via email.

One option that won’t be considered is a temporary bailey bridge, similar to one used on the Simpson Street bridge a few years ago when the public demanded something be done to cure detour woes on the busy artery.

"There’s really no room for any temporary structure at this site. The two options are complete closure or to maintain two lanes of traffic, one in the north direction, one in the south direction, as we’ve done on Balmoral and the Harbour Expressway," Mauro said.

Mauro said his department has notified area businesses north and south of the bridge site, and have asked for public input. To date no comments have been received, perhaps, he said, because they realize a complete closure may be the least painful option.

"Some of the advantages to closure are an early start and an early finish. Hopefully we will be completed before the summer and early fall season. It also provides a safer work site."
Council will have the final say.

The reconstruction project includes refurbishment of the deck, sidewalk and railings, waterproofing measures and a new layer of asphalt.