A Bridge Over Troubled Water

The Victoria Bridge (On Ridout Street)

   We live between two important streets that serve as passages for those going north or south by car here in London. A bottleneck on one of them (Wharncliffe Road) is going to be improved soon, but the improvements have been postponed for a bit while a new bridge is being constructed on the other (Ridout Street.) In early spring, construction began around the bridge on Ridout and the project seemed to proceed rapidly. Then one day, there was silence and the workers disappeared. 

   Although I have lamented the loss of local newspapers, I confess to not subscribing to the one in London since it is no longer a ‘local’ publication. If there was news reported about the stalled project, I missed it.  The rumour was that the city officials had failed to get some sort of permit and it likely spread quickly because of the irony involved, if it was true.

The temporary pedestrian bridge on pause

   The work has been stopped because the Department of Fisheries and Oceans fears that the habitat of two at-risk species (a minnow and a mussel) may be damaged. It is not clear if this problem should have been anticipated and by whom. It is clear that the Thames River is not in good shape, so it is best that the concerns are addressed. The bridge was supposed to be erected by May 2023, but it is unlikely that it will be. Here are some sources to go along with the rumours you may have heard.

Sources:

   This one explains what happened: “Tiny, Rare Fish and Mollusks Halt $23-million City Bridge Project: Federal Fisheries Officials Want the City to Come Up With a Better Way Forward”,  Colin Butler · CBC News · Posted: Jun 22, 2022.

“The presence of rare species of fish and mollusks living in the Thames River near the heart of the city has temporarily halted a $23-million bridge project. 

Construction on Victoria Bridge, more commonly known as the Ridout Street bridge, was supposed to start in the spring, but work has been temporarily halted over concerns heavy construction could disrupt the habitat of at-risk species of fish and mussels living in the water.” 

The presence of rare species of fish and mollusks living in the Thames River near the heart of the city has temporarily halted a $23-million bridge project. 

   Here is what was supposed to happen: “Here's What London's New Victoria Bridge Will Look Like: Work Will Close Ridout Street South of Horton to Vehicles for More Than a Year,” Andrew Lupton · CBC News · Posted: Feb 04, 2022 

“After almost 100 years spent carrying Ridout Street traffic over the Thames River south of Horton Street, the Victoria bridge replacement is set to begin this spring. 

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority provides a lot of good information about the Thames. See for example these booklets on "Thames Topics." The Thames is a Canadian Heritage River.

Post Script:  
   There was some collateral damage. The tennis courts in nearby Thames Park are serving as the staging area (they are to be improved after the construction of the bridge, but are unusable for this summer.) Also, the Thames pool will remain closed because of an unrelated problem. The homeless people residing along the river will no longer be able brag that they have both a pool and tennis courts in their backyard.

The Bonus:
   Those of you who think a silver minnow should not swim in the way of your commute,  might benefit from reading this. Once our rivers actually contained fish, mussels and clams and even supplied pearls for a robust button industry. See: Mussels and Other Molluscs.