September 12, 2018
Commando Lake is a large, H-shaped water feature in the middle of Cochrane, a small town in Northern Ontario. For many decades, an iconic arched footbridge was a community focal point, joining two peninsulas at the crossbar of the H. Alas, it was time for a replacement, but there was a great deal of concern about the aesthetics and cost of the new bridge.
The town partnered with Algonquin Bridge to design and fabricate the replacement. An Algonquin representative actually attended a town Council meeting with the contractor in late May to give councillors an opportunity for input into design options and pricing. This helped get the project off to a good start and ensure that expectations were met.
In the end, a weathering-steel Bowstring Truss design with Hemlock decking was selected. Council liked the fact that their new bridge echoed the arched shape and finish of the original Pratt Truss design and maintained the natural wood decking.
Pre-engineered pedestrian bridge had to be ready for Cochrane Summerfest
With the design decisions made and the order in hand, time was of the essence. The new bridge needed to be ready for the upcoming Cochrane Summerfest in early August, with many events scheduled at this site.
Good communication with the contractor helped move things along smoothly and the new bridge was expedited through our Thorndale, Ontario, facility. It arrived on time and was set onto the existing abutments in just one day.
