MAINTAINING THE HERITAGE OF BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE

摘要

Constructed in 1875, Blackfriars Bridge is a 140-year-old wrought-iron bowstring arch-truss bridge fabricated by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company (WIBC) of Canton, Ohio, and located in the downtown area of London, Ontario, Canada. The 65.8 m (216 ft) single-span bridge is the only WIBC bowstring arch-truss in Canada, and it is the oldest and longest such bridge remaining. The City of London designated it as a Heritage Structure in 1992, and it is the oldest metal bridge on the Ontario heritage Bridge List. The City conducted a Risk Assessment, Inspection, and Evaluation of the bridge to consider its role in the transportation network, its structural condition and potential rehabilitation options for the historic structure. The inspection revealed significant localized deterioration in contrast to the overall performance of the wrought-iron bridge components. A structural analysis and evaluation was completed and short-term repairs were undertaken to maintain safety while long-term rehabilitation plans are developed. Overall, Blackfriars Bridge has a long history of usage in the City. It has been a connection for horse-drawn as well as modern vehicular traffic on Blackfriars Street and is well used by pedestrians & cyclists along the Thames Valley Parkway. As a result, there is much support to proceed with rehabilitation of the structure.