Let’s Get the Sylvan Glen Bridge the Attention It Deserves

ACO Port Hope Advocacy

By Bruce Bowden and Susan Layard

As you may know, the Municipality of Port Hope is planning replace the 100-year-old Sylvan Glen Bridge. See our article in last year’s ACO Matters.

Make a Difference Now

The Municipality has created a Public Information Centre regarding this proposed replacement on their website and are asking Port Hope residents to review the project details and to provide feedback through the comment form (closed as of February 10th, 2023).

Sylvan Glen Bridge 2009, Port Hope Archives.

Our Heritage Culture

The Sylvan Glen area is well-loved by Port Hope residents for many reasons:

  • The vistas of the winding river (in a location of gentle flow) that differ to east and west; the attraction of the physical structure with its railings both for passers-by and for anglers.
  • The public area to the west from this juncture of the Conservation Authority that is immediately visible on the river’s south bank
  • The bridge’s proximity to the Harris Trail, a gem created by Bill Harris, his wife Penny, and friends that is now a very popular walk for residents and tourists alike.

Concrete Is Better Than Steel

The consulting firm for the bridge project is the Ainley Group, and they are proposing either a concrete replacement, which is their preference because it more closely replicates the original bridge, or a steel replacement. The concrete bridge will be longer and wider but will look similar to the original, and will have comparable decorative elements. Needless to say, ACO Port Hope would prefer a replacement bridge which exactly replicates the original, but, given the two options, we would certainly choose the concrete replacement over the steel alternative.

Public Safety

We are concerned, however, for the safety of the pedestrians, anglers and cyclists who often visit the bridge and the beautiful surrounding area. Traffic will no longer be slowed by a narrow bridge, and we expect that trucks will no longer be prohibited. In our comment form, ACO Port Hope will therefore be stating our preference for the concrete alternative but also suggesting the addition of enhanced protections for visitors to the area such as widening the proposed bridge to include a safe zone for pedestrians particularly if the road is again to be opened to truck traffic.