Historic McQuillan’s Bridge in Guelph closed after safety assessment

A bridge in Guelph will be closed until further notice after an assessment by the city determined it was no longer safe for public use.

In a press release, the municipality said that McQuillan’s Bridge, which crosses over the Eramosa River just south of Stone Road East, will close as of Jan. 29. Officials said it cannot support public use after a structural condition assessment. The review of the bridge was already planned and later this year there will be public input on the project.

City staff will put up barriers to it as weather permits.

The bridge has multiple historic designations including to its vertical members, the arches and the concrete pillars tying to the arches. It was first built in 1916 and spans the river that was the boundary line between the Township of Guelph and the Township of Puslinch.

“The bridge is an early example of reinforced concrete bow string truss construction,” the City of Guelph website reads. “Commonly called McQuillan’s Bridge, due to the proximity of this river crossing to lots cleared and settled by the McQuillan family.”

It was constructed by Charles Mattaini, a local craftsman who was a native of Italy, and built over 50 bridges in the area.

With files from CityNews Kitchener’s Erin Anderson.