Central Huron Council votes to close Ball's Bridge to vehicles after continued vandalism

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

After continuing reports of damage and vandalism at historic Ball’s Bridge - which joins Central Huron and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) - Central Huron Council has voted to close the bridge permanently, a decision that will have to be finalized by ACW Council voting likewise.

 

Council made the decision at its Monday night meeting after Roads Manager Brady Nolan presented his report on the subject to council. This comes after the Ball’s Bridge Board made a recommendation to the two councils that the bridge be closed in order to preserve its history and integrity amid ongoing damage.

 

“At the April 10, 2025 board meeting, the board directed Central Huron staff to install cameras on the bridge to help with mitigating future vandalism, however, it has not seemed to deter the vandals,” Nolan wrote in his report.

 

“Over the past few weeks, various vehicles have been found doing burnouts on the bridge. As a result, the board has requested that the bridge be temporarily closed until a report can be brought to both ACW and Central Huron Councils recommending the permanent closure of the bridge. There are currently various repairs required for the bridge at a cost of upwards of $500,000, therefore it is important that the bridge is maintained as best as possible to avoid unnecessary repairs or to increase the cost of repairs even more.”

 

At its June 12 meeting, the board passed a motion to that effect, asking for the temporary closure of the bridge to vehicular traffic, followed by permanent closure. That led to Central Huron Council’s discussion on the subject on Monday night, followed by ACW Council considering it the next morning. It was, perhaps, coincidental that, on the evening of Tuesday, June 17, Central Huron was holding its annual Mayor’s Mingle at the bridge.

 

Nolan, when speaking to council, said that the whole situation was unfortunate and could really be tracked back to a few bad actors ruining it for everyone. Councillors agreed, acknowledging that the money simply wouldn’t be there for extensive repairs, especially if damage and vandalism were to continue at the bridge.

 

Council then voted to have the bridge closed to vehicular traffic beginning after the Mayor’s Mingle event, pending a corresponding decision from ACW Council. If and when ACW Council also votes to close the bridge to traffic, Central Huron will work with ACW on closure measures to prevent vehicles from driving over the bridge on a permanent basis.