The Menesetung Bridge Association could be getting a loan from Huron County to make sure this summer's bridge repairs are the only ones needed for a while.
The association says it has raised the $700,000 necessary to complete crucial repairs to the footing, thanks to a Trans Canada Trail grant, funding from Ashfield-Colbourne-Wawanosh and Goderich, a FedDev Ontario contribution, and lots of fundraising.
A BM Ross report in 2020 recommended that priority repairs be completed on the nearly 120-year-old bridge's concrete within five years or risk closure.
In a presentation to council, association member Donna Appavoo said Strat-Con Construction had been awarded the contract to do the work that will close the bridge for four to five months, which will hopefully be a one-time closure.
"If we are able to secure further funding for the provisional work, there is still a possibility to include some or all of it in this summer's schedule," she told council. "Our target for that is now $300,000. This number would be much higher if we do not get the work done this summer while the contractor is set up. This would also prevent another bridge closer in an upcoming busy tourist season."
Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn was the one who floated an idea of a loan to the association.
"If the County were to loan the organization the $300,000, it would reduce the cost that they would incur in doing it in two stages," he said. "The cost to the county once the money was paid back would only be lost interest of some point."
Council asked staff to bring back a report on a potential $300,000 loan as soon as possible to help meet their timeline.
Construction on the bridge footing is expected to start in April.