After years of controversy, it’s nice to see the Collingwood Street Bridge come together this week, providing a sense of closure. It looks great.
The construction site has been a source of entertainment for the community over the past three months. People have been regular visitors, getting to know the workers and catching up on neighbourhood news.
Many people in the community are divided on the issue; there were certainly those who wanted to see the bridge preserved and those who, as one resident said, could be described as the silent majority who agreed that the upgrades needed to be done.
There are also those who find it a little hard to swallow that the County of Simcoe spent more than $400,000 putting the steel trusses back on the bridge but it was only to appease those who wanted to preserve the bridge’s heritage.
It’s a bit extravagant, that in an era when so many of the bridges in the area need to be repaired, money is spent decorating one.
As part of the reconstruction project, the county is taking great care to acknowledge the historic value of the bridge by installing a commemorative plaque using salvaged steel from the old bridge.
The original steel nameplate that was taken from the bridge before it was dismantled has not been recovered. It was hoped that it would be affixed to the new bridge. The theory is that someone took it as a memento.
If that’s true, the community would like to see it returned to its proper place.
Chris Dunk, owner of Curiosity House Books and Bank Café, is willing to put up a reward for the plaque. He is offering $250 for its return. No questions asked.
It can be delivered to the bookstore, the café or The Creemore Echo office.