Orangeville Council has chosen a design option for a new Mill Street bridge as part of a $2-million reconstruction project.

Set to commence in June, the project had already been approved in the Capital Infrastructure Renewal Program and involves reconstructing the street between Townline and Little York/Armstrong Streets and replacing the bridge, watermains and portions of the sanitary and storm sewers.

Council was presented with two options:

1. To construct a balustrade-style barrier railing, somewhat similar to the style of the current bridge, or

2. To construct an archstyle barrier similar to bridges over the Grand River north of Grand Valley.

A report from Gary Kocialek, managing director of operations and transportation, says R. J Burnside and Associates, who have been authorized to do the engineering services for the project, estimate the cost of the second option would be $20,000 more than the first option.

"That said, given the historic nature of the area and the fact that the replacement bridge will likely be in place for approximately 80 years, this is a rare opportunity for council to consider something truly unique," says Mr. Kocialek's report.

Council, however, didn't take the "unique" route, instead narrowly approving option 1.

Councillor Gail Campbell put the motion to have option 1, saying she couldn't see spending the extra $20,000.

However, Mayor Drew Brown mentioned funds for the project would come from the capital infrastructure revitalization project, money the Town has borrowed for urgent capital projects.

"I just thought for the $20,000 on the $9 million or so in construction that we are going to be doing this year, that the $20,000 would be a good investment," the Mayor said.

Councillor Campbell said she understood the mayor's point but didn't back down, saying she couldn't support the additional $20,000.

Not being one to give up easily, Mayor Brown argued that spending an extra $20,000 for a bridge that should last 80 years would be a wise investment. "It just seems to me that this is a once-in-alifetime, once-in-our-generation opportunity to have a long-term impact on the town for $20,000.

Councillor Ken Manwell wondered which option Heritage Orangeville would prefer. The chair of the heritage committee, Deputy Mayor Jim MacGregor, said the committee would likely support the option resembling the original structure. "I'm going to stick my head out and say that would be their position based on their philosophy."

Councillor Campbell's motion passed 4-3.

Tenders for the project are to be prepared immediately in hopes that construction work can start in June and be finished by September.

Mr. Kocialek told the Citizen Wednesday that the project will include replacing water supply lines to the edge of the municipal right-of-way and any sewer lines where replacement is deemed necessary based on video inspections of the lines.

He added that the $2 million cost estimate was subject to the results of both the tender call and the video inspections of the sewer lines.