UPDATE: Hinchinbrooke Road closed to traffic after partial road collapse
Update (Aug 4, 2021):
A partial road failure occurred on Hinchinbrooke Road just north of Silver Rock Lane at Spring Lake on Thursday, Jul. 15, 2021. As a result, and in the interest of public safety, the road has been closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic until further notice.
The Township has hired a geotechnical engineering expert to complete an assessment of the site prior to any remedial work being started, according to a release from the Township of South Frontenac, dated Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. The geotechnical engineer was actively engaged on design work for the repair of the crossing this past week and the Township said they anticipate beginning remediation efforts in mid-August.
“We understand the inconvenience this has caused for residents and regular travellers of Hinchinbrooke Road. The Township remains committed to finding the quickest resolution possible, while still ensuring public safety,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal.
Residents are reminded that the road remains unsafe for use and that no one should cross the barriers that have been put in place. Additional questions about the closure can be directed to Troy Dunlop, Manager of Technical Services and Infrastructure at 613-376-3027 ext. 4331 or via email to [email protected].
The Township said they appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation at this time. More information will be available in late August 2021 regarding the re-opening of Hinchinbrooke Road.
Original Article (Jul 16, 2021):
The site of a newly installed culvert on Hinchinbrooke Road just north of Silver Rock Lane at Spring Lake has had a partial road failure, and the road will remain closed to traffic and pedestrians until further notice.
The failure occurred at approximately 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2021, according to a release from the Township of South Frontenac. Fortunately, no individuals were injured and no vehicles or equipment were damaged in the incident.
“Township staff are in the process of determining the cause of the failure and have involved our consulting engineer and other approval authorities in this process,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal. “While this event is unfortunate, safety is our first priority and Council is thankful that no one was hurt during the incident.”
With involvement from the Township’s consulting engineer, a culvert replacement was underway at the location of the failure and had been proceeding without incident, according to the release. Yesterday’s incident resulted in a portion of the east side of the road at this location collapsing into the adjacent swamp.
“Before the site is deemed safe to access and before any remedial work can take place, an assessment must be completed by a qualified geotechnical expert,” explained Neil Carbone, the Township’s Chief Administrative Officer. “It is going to take some time to determine the cause of the failure and the best approach to repair this section of road. As a result, we do not expect the road to be reopened at this location for some time. We appreciate the inconvenience this creates for residents of Hinchinbrooke Road and the Township is committed to addressing this issue as quickly as possible while ensuring public safety.”
Residents are reminded to avoid this area and to not cross the barriers put in place, as the road remains unsafe at this location at this time. Emergency services have been notified of the indefinite closure and a public notice has been posted on the Township’s website and social media.
The Township said they appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation at this time.