Sarah Williams
Beaver Staff
Owning a bridge, along with a piece of Tyendinaga Township history, could be within reach for anyone who wants to bid on the historic Boldrick Bridge, as the township prepares to put the bridge up for auction this week.
Tyendinaga’s Chief Administrative Officer, Carla Preston, took some time answer questions about the impetus behind this decision and the history of the bridge.
“We received a number of unsolicited offers on the Boldrick’s Bridge which triggered staff to review the current need and plan for the bridge,” said Preston. “We identified that the bridge no longer served a viable purpose for the township and would be better used if sold to the public. Following our Procurement By-law, an online auction was one of the means to dispose of surplus assets.
The history of the bridge dates back to 1963 when it was known as the O’Brien’s Bridge.
“Originally it was known as the O’Brien’s Bridge on Highway 37. Original drawing records show that the existing bridge foundation was constructed in 1963, at which time the truss superstructure was repurposed from Highway 37 and installed on Shannon Road, approximately 2.2 kms east of Shannonville Road over Parks Creek,” stated Preston. “In late 2019, access to Boldrick’s Bridge on Shannon Road was closed to all vehicle traffic as a result of its deteriorated steel and removed in 2020 and placed in the Blessington Yard where it has remained to date.”
The bridge will be sold online through a government website, allowing the township to remain at arms length from the transaction.
“The Township will be selling the Boldrick’s Bridge on GovDeals.ca, an online government surplus auction site. Using an online auction such as GovDeals allows the Township to remain at arms length, and saves administrative time and money while broadening the audience,” Preston explained. “In order to place a bid on the bridge, bidders are required to register, which is free and easy to do.”
Preston added that the asset will be sold as is and as described and permits will be the sole responsibility of the purchaser.
Speaking with Preston on Jan. 24, the CAO iterated the listing should be active early the same week. It will only be listed for two weeks.
When asked whether the township expected a reasonable number of bids, Preston expressed hope given the number of inquiries.
“If the number of inquires is a measure of how many people will bid, I would say yes, we expect significant interest. The sale is a unique opportunity for anyone looking for a structure such as of the Boldrick’s Bridge for various uses,” Preston commented.