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BACKGROUND:
The Centennial Bridge is a CN Rail Bridge that the City owns and the bridge is utilized by CN. GO Transit is finalizing a Class Environmental Assessment & Preliminary Design Study to expand public transit in the greater Golden Horseshoe area recognizing the increased pressure on the existing transportation infrastructure. GO will be using these tracks in order to access the Golden Horseshoe and will be constructing a GO Station in this location. An additional bridge will be constructed adjacent to and northerly of the existing bridge.
In order to address the transportation needs for Hamilton and the greater Golden Horseshoe area, the City of Hamilton needs to undertake a Municipal Class EA in order to address the needs to this bridge.
This assignment shall fulfil the requirements of a Schedule C project in the Municipal Class EA. All the potential impacts of the alternative designs, their impacts and all mitigating measures must be reviewed and documented in the Environmental Study Report. The alternative designs must be evaluated and the information must be well documented with clear rationale and decision making process. This assignment shall be conducted in coordination with any potential EA’s that may result from the Drainage Assessment that is being completed for the City’s Infrastructure & Source Water Planning Section.
This project is in the area of the city where the future Rapid Transit S line is proposed. This project is not part of the S line study.
The CN Rail Bridge is located 540m north of Barton Street East, on Centennial Parkway North. The bridge consists of two tracks located over the road, and has an operational status of being open and in use.
The Municipal Engineers Association Class Environmental Assessment (EA) – October 2000, as amended 2007 process applies to the construction, reconstruction or alteration of a structure over 40 years old.
This study shall fulfil the requirements of a Schedule C Project in the Municipal Class EA process. In addition, this bridge will be assessed for its heritage value and the heritage data collected will be considered in decisions that may alter its structure. Two resource documents have been completed to assist with the completion of Class Environmental Assessments for Heritage Bridges:
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A Heritage Structure Assessment was completed in 2002 to identify bridges in the City of Hamilton that are 35 years or older, and to assess the heritage significance of each structure.
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A Heritage Bridge Guideline & Heritage Bridge Conservation document was finalized in 2006 to outline a process for assessing the heritage value of bridges over 40 years old.
The construction period of Centennial Parkway – C.N. Rail Bridge dates to 1901 – 1939. Construction materials include a concrete pier which supports the concrete slab, as well as decorative cuts in the deck, abutments, and the piers. The date is imprinted both in the abutments and on the deck. There is a simple steel balustrade positioned on the deck. Concrete components of this structure show signs of deterioration. To this date there is no evidence that the bridge has received alterations.
GO Transit, the Province of Ontario’s interregional public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas, is undertaking a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study and Preliminary Design for the future expansion of rail service to the Niagara Peninsula. The Niagara Peninsula Rail Service Expansion Class EA Study follows the planning process for a Group “B” project, as identified under GO Transit’s Class Environmental Assessment Document, 2003. The purpose of GO Transit’s Class EA project was to investigate future rail service requirements within the extended Hamilton to Niagara Peninsula corridor. The Centennial Bridge has been identified for a GO rail line north of this bridge (adjacent to). This site was considered for a GO station due to its advantageous geographic location in east Hamilton. |