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What is happening now?

McQuillan’s Bridge was until further notice, despite support over the years to maintain it. Folks in ���߲ݴ�ýhave long been advocating to save this historic site and establish the bridge as part of the city’s trail network.

“The closure of McQuillan’s Bridge was not inevitable,” said the open letter. “It is directly related to inaction by the city to execute repairs needed nearly 25 years ago and since.”

The authors asked Mayor Cam Guthrie and council members to prioritize an environmental assessment, install a pedestrian crosswalk to cross Stone Road East, investigate the wooden trestle railway bridge formerly used by the Ontario Reformatory, and put in a new temporary river-crossing near the site.

The signed authors are Adrian Salvatore of ���߲ݴ�ýCoalition for Active Transportation, Kevin Bodyl of ���߲ݴ�ýCycling Club, Colin McCusker of ���߲ݴ�ýHiking Trail Club, David Cameletti of ���߲ݴ�ýHistorical Society, Lorenz Calcagno of ���߲ݴ�ýOff Road Bicycling Club, Arlene Slocombe of ���߲ݴ�ýOutdoor School, Lynn Bestari of Yorklands Green Hub and P. Brian Skerrett of Urban Park Guelph.

They said this section of Stone Road is unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians.

For those that don’t know the area, McQuillan’s Bridge is also referred to as the Stone Road East Bow Truss Bridge or the Stone Road Bridge. It is located over the Eramosa branch of the Speed River, alongside the street.

P. Brian Skerrett, from Urban Park Guelph, said in a statement that it’s important to remember that the bridge was intended to be an architectural element in Guelph’s trail system and a functional means of safe cross-river connectivity.

“It’s a designated heritage structure in its own right as well as an asset within the Heritage Conservation District,” Skerrett said. “That also happens to be our proposed National Urban Park site and there is a cruel irony that the bridge is in our logo.”

What happened in the past?

According to , the bridge was constructed in 1916 on what was then the boundary line between the Township of ���߲ݴ�ýand the Township of Puslinch.

It is an early example of a “reinforced concrete bow string truss construction or tied arch span,” and was built to replace an earlier wooden span which was called McQuillan’s Bridge, as it was near the lots that were cleared and settled by the McQuillan family.

The engineer was A.W. Connor and the contractor who built it was Charles Mattaini, who also constructed at least 50 other bridges in the area.

This bridge is different in that the tall side arches have one cross beam connecting them, and it doesn’t have the same system of cross bracing that was typical with earlier bridges of a similar design.

Even the city states that McQuillan’s Bridge is a rare surviving example of concrete bow string truss construction from a time in which we were transitioning from horse-drawn carriages to motorized forms of transportation. Many council members over the years have also stressed the historical importance of the structure.

Local street artist Lionel chose to make a statement piece out of the bridge by wrapping it in bright orange and adding the words “Demolition by Neglect” on the side in July 2024.

The same words were echoed in the open letter, in a statement shared from 2021, written to city council by ���߲ݴ�ýHiking Trail President John Fisher.

“This bridge will not survive another 10 years of neglect. It is one failing lump of concrete away from being declared a liability, resulting in a currently active transportation link being closed to the public to await an all too familiar ultimate fate of ‘demolition by neglect.’”

Lionel said in an earlier statement that despite the bridge’s designation under the Ontario Heritage Act, it faced an insidious threat and uncertain future. He said his art installation “urges us to confront our roles as custodians of history.” The installation was removed by the city in early August 2024, but the words painted on the side remain.

What will happen next?

The city has confirmed to the ���߲ݴ�ýMercury Tribune that the open letter was received. General manager and city engineer Terry Gayman said the bridge was closed as a precautionary public safety measure based on third-party recommendations that indicated the bridge was no longer safe for cyclists and pedestrians.

“To improve pedestrian mobility in the area, we’ve temporarily installed concrete jersey barriers on Stone Road East, added flashing pedestrian warning signs and lowered the speed limit to 40 km/h near the bridge. Staff are monitoring the effectiveness and usage of these measures to determine if any adjustments should be made in the future,” said Gayman in a statement.

He said the city has planned a study to begin later this year to look at different options for the future with a focus on active transportation, heritage and safety. There will be opportunities for public input as part of that study, and the community will be notified.

Any potential capital improvements to the bridge, as identified in the study, would be forecast for 2026 to 2028.

“The city works hard to maintain nearly $8 billion in assets, including heritage assets, to provide the community with the levels of service people desire. There are approximately $360 million in assets that are past due for replacement. We take the responsibility to maintain and manage Guelph’s infrastructure very seriously and do so in compliance with applicable requirements,” said Gayman.

Are you curious about the history and upkeep of any ���߲ݴ�ýsites? Do you have any heritage stories to share? Let me know at jstruthers@metroland.com.