Railing over gorge to north.
In 2001 Archaeological Services Inc. worked with McCormick Rankin Corporation and the County of Wellington to devise a conservation strategy for the Irvine River Bridge on David Street in Elora. Considered a community landmark and engineering marvel, the bridge, which was constructed over the 25 m deep gorge, was the sixth structure to span the river at this crossing.
1867 limestone pier and 1921 arches, Elora, Ontario.
The 22 m high limestone pier built in the year of Canada’s Confederation, had been supporting a pair of graceful reinforced concrete open spandrel arches since 1921, but traffic and load deficiencies were testing the limitations of the deteriorating one lane structure. The solution was to retain and re-point the pier, replace the arches with a two-lane replica and install heritage style concrete railings sympathetic to the 1921 design.
Carriage style luminaries and posts were also erected. From the bottom of the gorge the view of the bridge remains as dramatic as ever, and locals and visitors alike can continue to appreciate an important part of Elora’s history.