Background & FAQs

The History of Silver Bridge

• Built in the late 1920s
• Three Span Bridge: two steel girder approach sections and one main “through truss” (46m) spanning the Muskoka River.
• Located in a “severe” environment spanning the Muskoka River at the Bracebridge Falls Dam.

How does the District inspect bridges?

• All 49 District-owned bridges are inspected every two years, following Ontario Regulation 472/10 and the Canadian Highway Bridge Code.
• Inspections are visual and non-intrusive, conducted under the supervision of a licensed Professional Engineer.
• Several inspections were performed throughout 2024 to support ongoing design efforts. No issues were identified at that time.

When was the last inspection, and were there any concerns?

• The last inspection was conducted in November 2024.
• No structural concerns were noted during this inspection.

Has work been done on the bridge before?

Yes, two major rehabilitations on record:

• 1985: Major deck repairs, structural component replacements, and painting.
• 2001: Replacement of approach spans, deck repairs, truss strengthening, replacement of the sidewalk on the west side, and recoating of steel members.

Was there additional rehabilitation work planned for the bridge?

• Based on the regular inspections of the bridge, a capital project was scoped, and design work began in 2024 to rehabilitate the bridge. Construction was scheduled to begin in 2025, following the construction work completed for the Taylor Road bridge. The original scope included deck repairs, structural component rehabilitation, and recoating of steel members.
• Funding to support this rehabilitation was included in the Draft 2025/2026 Tax Levy supported Capital budget.
• The scope of work for this planned project is being adjusted to account for the additional complexities associated with the recent development.