A motion to permanently close and demolish Cobb’s Lake Creek Bridge was defeated during Clarence-Rockland’s March 20 council meeting.
“The removal of this bridge will divert large farming equipment onto main roadways, increasing the risk of accidents and that’s a risk I’m not willing to take,” said Clarence-Rockland Mayor Mario Zanth who voted against the motion to close the bridge for good. “Our farmers, play an enormous role not only in our city, but our province and our country. 861,000 jobs are supported by farming in Ontario alone and the agri-food sector adds $43.6 billion to Ontario’s GDP every year.”
Last September, councillors held a closed session of council where new information forced council to reconsider a previous decision to demolish the bridge, according to a notice motion presented by Councillor Simon-Olivier Peladeau-Houle, whose ward covers Saint-Pascal-Baylon where the bridge is located.
Mayor Zanth noted the City of Clarence-Rockland already allocated more than $330,000 towards the require upkeep of Cobb’s Lake Creek Bridge, while a private investment of $300,000 has been made supporting the necessary repairs needed for the bridge.
“Top of mind for me is security,” said Mayor Zanth. “Not only security for farmers and their equipment but for all motorists. The removal of this bridge will divert large farming equipment onto main roadways, increasing the risk of accidents and that’s a risk I’m not willing to take.”
