by Andrew Mendler
Loyalist College’s sustainability committee has been hard at work over the past four years attempting to get the go ahead to build a bridge across Potter’s Creek behind the college.
“We immediately recognized that if (students) come to the college from the eastern side (of Belleville) they don’t have a way to conveniently cross Potter’s creek,” said bioscience teacher and committee member Eric Bauer.
Journalism professor Joe Callahan is spearheading the project and has been the main force behind the idea for the past few years.
“The broader issue and the reason for me suggesting this in the first place is I feel that the Old Highway 2 and the Moira Street West extension are too dangerous for people to be riding their bikes on,” said Callahan.
Callahan along with Bauer, helped create a sub-committee that is focusing on meeting all of the environmental, city and property requirements.
Both teachers feel that the construction of the bridge is still along ways off. If all goes well, Callahan hopes to have a bridge in place by next September.
“Currently we are at the stage were I am looking for some design ideas from some of the construction technology faculty here at the college,” said Callahan.
Once they get the bridge designed they will be able to figure out how much the project will cost and then start raising the money.
“I am imagining this as a project the students would work on,” said Callahan. “I’m hoping under the supervision of construction technology professors the students would build the bridge.”
In the summer a Loyalist student who was working for Quinte Conservation did an analysis of the soil and location of where the bridge is likely to be located, said Callahan. On the strength of that data, the manager of Quinte Conservation sent an email listing the recommended type of bridge structures that could be used.
The committee is working in part with the city, the college and Quinte Conservation authority in order to meet all of the necessary requirements.
Callahan talked about the exact location being a hurdle at first because the college only owns a portion of the land by the creek. The rest is owned by the city or is considered public land.
“We have worked together with the conservation authority to start to get an idea about what the requirements would be in terms of no disruption of habitat along that little watercourse,” said Bauer.
Bauer also talked about students currently throwing all sorts of “junk” into the stream to be able to get across it without getting their feet wet.
The city of Belleville is currently working on their new transportation master plan, and trying to find new ways for the city to connect with Loyalist College.
“What’s encouraging is that the master plan is including things like bike paths and walking paths. So I think they are trying to do this in a thorough way,” said Callahan. “City staffs are very supportive they are very helpful. It is just how high is this on their agenda.”