Residents, officials concerned as potholes worsen on Caledonia bridge

Potholes have become a growing safety concern on the Argyle Street Bridge in Caledonia, Ont. and the community is looking for answers on when repairs will be made.

Poor road conditions are common around this time of year because of thawing and freezing of the asphalt, but the bridge is particularly bad in Caledonia. The bridge is the responsibility of the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) so the county can’t repair it.

The bridge itself has been an issue for nearly 20 years and Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady said she’s been pushing the government to repair it for a while.

“I would say to the Ford government and the minister of transportation that this is not funny. This bridge is in a state of disrepair and it’s the number one issue in this area, it’s a danger,” said Brady. “I’ve asked this government time and time again if they’re willing to have blood on their hands with respect to this bridge and here we sit, just spinning our wheels about reconstruction of this bridge.”

One man posted photos on Facebook about the damage done to his tire due to the potholes on the bridge. He said he’ll have to pay for the repairs out of his own pocket while he waits to hear from the MTO about his claim.

“This is the worst I’ve seen. Like I’ve seen potholes that are not that bad. You know, a little bump in the road. These are wrecking vehicles, they are,” said one local driver.

It’s a busy road and one of the main through-lines in town, so drivers often can’t avoid going on the Argyle Street Bridge. The lanes are also quite narrow and that means to avoid the potholes, drivers are often in the middle of the road.

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And it’s not just an annoyance, hitting a pothole can cause costly damage. One person CHCH News spoke to dished out $130 to get a new rim after hitting a pothole. But it doesn’t stop there.

“I’ve had four bent rims which I had to take to a shop to have them straightened out, one of which when I hit the bump it instantly blew out my tire, so I had to get it towed as well,” said local driver Ron Tidgwell.

Tidgwell says he’s spent over $1,500 on parts to fix those issues and more on two cars.

CAA spokesperson Brian Pirvu said the cost of repairs can be extensive.

“We are seeing the average cost to repair a vehicle due to pothole damage ranges from $500 to $2,000, which can be quite the inconvenience for the average road-user.” Pirvu said. “We’re seeing from our members that they’re damaging their vehicles, whether it be tires, wheels or suspension.”

A recent CAA poll shows around 35 per cent of their members find alternate routes just to avoid potholes.

Local officials say the Ministry of Transportation is slated to repave the bridge in the summer, but that’s not the only work that’s required.

“It’s no secret that bridge needs to be reconstructed. And if we’d actually reconstruct the bridge, we wouldn’t have to worry about potholes,” said Brady.

Brady says the government has been studying how best to replace the bridge since 2020 but so far, there’s been no movement.

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Coun. Dan Lawrence said around 15,000 vehicles pass over the Argyle Street Bridge daily so safety is top priority.

“We’d like to see some daily repair here daily,” said Lawrence. “Recently I had a meeting with MTO senior staff and they’ve made a commitment to resurface the bridge this spring/summer in conjunction with our municipality, from the north mouth to Sutherland Street will be resurfaced because [the bridge is] in such disarray that we do need the remediation.”

In an emailed statement to CHCH News, the MTO said, in part, “The ministry’s contractor is prioritizing this location and has been actively repairing potholes as conditions allow.”

In an email to CHCH News, Haldimand County Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley said the bridge has been on the books to be replaced for the last 18 years.

“Our current MPP and myself and council have had many discussions with the MTO minister and staff as well as the Indigenous minister to get this bridge replaced as soon as possible,” Bentley said. “This past winter has created large potholes that the MTO is responsible for repair. It certainly is frustrating for residents and those that travel the bridge on a regular basis.”

Brady said if residents have their car damaged from provincial roads that have to be managed by the provincial government, to submit a claim online and copy her office so she is aware of how many claims are being made.

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