The two towns on either side of the Menesetung Bridge are each providing an additional $45,000 toward its repairs, in order to ensure the structure can reopen later this year.
Members of the Menesetung Bridge Association presented to council for the Town of Goderich and the Township of Ashfield-Colbourne-Wawanosh earlier this week, asking for an additional $90,000 in financial support.
Crews from StratCon have already been working on necessary fixes to the bridge's piers all summer.
According to association members, in late August, engineers found a structure failure on the top of Pier 5, meaning the item that was once in the provisional section of the contract was no longer optional.
The total cost for the repairs will now be over $1 million.
"The $90,000 is what we are short as of this week," said Menesetung Bridge Association Chair Marian Lane. "There are perhaps opportunities still within the community, but it has given generously. We cannot access any grants... our opportunities are very narrow and this is why we're asking both ends of the bridge to help us out."
Goderich and ACW had each already contributed $50,000 to the project, but during last year's discussions, council left the door open to provide more if there was a shortfall.
"We want this project to be done this year," said Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet. "We also need people to understand that we're under financial constraints here as well and we have made that $50,000 donation already. ACW has thankfully done the same thing. But if there's ways to help out, then we will consider them to get it over the finish line."
The bridge association presented to Goderich first, and council members were roundly in favour of funding half of the new costs through a grant. The funds will be provided through Economic Development Reserve and will be repaid from the Community Grant Budget allocation over the next five years. That means fewer grants will be available for other Goderich community projects in the coming years.
ACW will provide the other half of the funds required, taking that money out of reserves, with staff to determine which specific reserve will be used down the line.
Lane said the tentative reopening of the bridge was set for the end of November.
