The rivers along the banks of the Petawawa River continue to suffer erosion. Mayor Bob Sweet says he’s worried about the status of the bridge. It was announced earlier this month that the four lane expansion of Petawawa Boulevard (County Road 51) from Doran Road to the Garrison, including the addition of a second bridge, was not getting the green light for funding. Sweet says the province was looking to fund projects that covered aspects of health and safety and this one checked off all the boxes.
With over 17 000 people crossing the bridge every day, the mayor says it’s not unreasonable to ask for the project to move forward. Staff from the County of Renfrew are in talks with the Town of Petawawa to work out details on who owns the land up the river where much of the erosion is taking place. Stabilization work was carried out during the spring flooding and rocks were placed in the embankments to deflect water into the center of the channel, but the Petawawa mayor says he’s still noticing trees falling into the river.