Heritage Bridge in Kitchener's Victoria Park expected to reopen before end of year

Heritage Bridge in Kitchener's Victoria Park will remain closed until the end of the year.

The bridge to Roos Island, where the bandstand is located, was closed in March for a comprehensive inspection after wood rot was discovered along with deterioration of the bridge's beams. At the time, the city said it had hoped construction would be completed by the end of the summer.

City staff told CBC News an assessment was completed over the summer and it showed structural repairs are needed. The city plans to put out tenders for the repairs this fall, with work anticipated to be completed before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, parks crews have been on the island cleaning up litter and debris and doing maintenance on the bandstand.

The island has been completely closed off to the public since the spring. A second bridge to the island — the one at Roland Street — has been closed since the end of April. That's because six people were living on the island.

Security guards were also placed on that bridge and remain there. The city told CBC News that currently, there is one person living on the island. Staff are working with the individual to identify their needs and develop a plan to support them moving to another location.

There's no timeline for how long that could take, the city said.