Skip to Content
Default Interior Background
Orillia Home

City of Orillia Logo

City of Orillia print logo
Contact Us Main menu icon
Contact UsLibraryTheatreWebsite Feedback
Search
Take Me To...
  • Living Here
    View our Garbage, Recycling & Green Bin Pickup page

    Garbage, Recycling & Green Bin Pickup

    View our Recreation FUN Guide page

    Recreation FUN Guide

    View our Route Map & Schedules page

    Bus Route Map & Schedules

    • Accessibility
    • Animal Control & Licensing
    • Building Division
    • By-laws/Municipal Code - Regulations & Policies
    • City Services
    • Culture & Heritage
    • Education
    • Emergency Services
    • Garbage, Recycling & Green Bin Pick-up
    • Have Your Say
    • Health Care
    • Housing
    • Landfill
    • Life Events
    • Living in Orillia as a Student
    • Maps
    • New Resident Information
    • News
    • Orillia's Climate Future
    • Parking & Ticket Payments
    • Property Taxes & Assessments
    • Public Transit
    • Recreation and Youth Services Information
    • Roads & Traffic
    • Seniors Information
    • Sewer & Wastewater
    • Source Water Protection
    • Stormwater
    • Water
    • View More...
  • Doing Business
    View our Maps page

    Maps

    View our Transportation Options page

    Transportation Options

    View our Housing page

    Housing

    • City Profile
    • Why Orillia
    • Business Resources
    • Real Estate
    • Invest Downtown Orillia
    • News
  • Visit Orillia
    View our Discover and Do page

    Discover & Do

    View our Festivals and Events page

    Festivals and Events

    View our Stay and Plan page

    Stay & Plan

    • Leacock Museum
    • Orillia Farmers' Market
    • Orillia Opera House
    • Port of Orillia
    • Parking
    • Municipal Accommodation Tax
  • Inside City Hall
    View our City of Orillia Employment Opportunities page

    City of Orillia Employment Opportunities

    View our Bids and Tenders page

    Bids & Tenders

    View our Current Council Agendas page

    Council Meeting Information

    • A - Z Services
    • About City Hall
    • Accessibility
    • Applications, Licences & Permits
    • Bids & Tenders
    • Bill Payments
    • Boards & Committees
    • By-law Listing
    • City Plans, Studies & Maps
    • Contact Us
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Declaration of Interest Registry
    • Departments
    • Employment & Volunteer Opportunities
    • Fees
    • Governance Review
    • Grants
    • Issues and Complaints
    • Major Projects
    • Mayor & Council
    • Municipal Core Service and Organizational Review and Strategic Plan
    • Municipal Election
    • News
    • Office of the Integrity Commissioner
    • Recreation Facility
    • Winter Control Operations
    • Weekly Bulletin Board
  • Online Services
    • Bids & Tenders
    • City Centre Appointment Booking
    • Have Your Say
    • Find a Facility/Amenity
    • Find a Property
    • Leacock Tour Tickets
    • Opera House Tickets
    • Pay Orillia Parking Tickets
    • Property Tax Calculator
    • Recreation Program Registration
    • Snowplow Tracker
    • Water Usage Customer Portal
Follow Us: View our Twitter Page View our Facebook Page View our YouTube Page View the Community Services Instagram Page
View Entire Menu

Atherley Narrows Bridge Project

Show or hide navigation More
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email This page Email

More in this Section...

Sketch of plausible Pedestrian Bridge

Contact(s)

Receive Email Updates...

Notice of Study Completion - Atherley Narrows Pedestrian Bridge

The City of Orillia, in partnership with the Township of Ramara and the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, and through their consultant AECOM, has completed a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study to assess the opportunity to provide a recreational trail connection across the Atherley Narrows, enhance existing significant cultural heritage features and establish a place of ceremony for Aboriginal people.  The EA study was carried out in accordance with the planning and design process for Schedule 'C' projects as outlined in the Municipal Class EA document (October 2000, as amended in 2007 and 2011), approved under the Environmental Assessment Act.

The Environmental Study Report (ESR) has been prepared to document the planning and decision making process that was followed. By this Notice, the ESR is being placed on the public record for a 30-day review period in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class EA. The ESR will be available for public review, beginning on Friday, November 13, 2015.

Based on the evaluation of the planning and design alternatives, and in consideration of public and agency input, the recommended plan includes the removal and relocation of the existing swing bridge span and development of a newly designed bridge that will serve recreational trail users, including pedestrians, cyclists and snowmobiles.  The enhanced design features of the new bridge include the resurfacing of the trails to the immediate east and west of the bridge site, as well as enhanced landscaping. For more information, the ESR is available for review.

Please find below links to the ESR and related appendices:

Environmental Study - Full Report

Appendix A - Consultation

Appendix B - Natural Environment Impact Study

Appendix C - Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment

Appendix D - Marine Archaeological Assessment

Appendix E - Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report

Appendix F - Bridge Condition Survey

Appendix G - Underwater Survey

Appendix H - Geotechnical Investigation

Hard copies are also available for viewing at the following locations as of November 13, 2015.

 

City of Orillia 

(Parks, Recreation and Culture Department)
50 Andrew St. S., Suite 300
Orillia, ON L3V 7T5

Phone: 705-329-7250
Mon to Fri: 8:30 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m.

Orillia Public Library

36 Mississaga St. W.
Orillia, ON  L3V 3A6

Phone: 705-325-2338
Mon - Thurs: 10:00 a.m. 
to 8:00 p.m.
Fri: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sat: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sun: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Chippewas of Rama 
First Nation

Government Office
5884 Rama Rd., Suite 200
Rama, ON  L3V 6H6

Phone: 705-325-3611
Mon to Fri: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

Township of Ramara

Clerk's Office
2297 Hwy. 12
Brechin, ON L0K 1B0

Mon to Fri: 9:00 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.

 

Ramara Public Library

Ramara Centre Branch 
5482 Hwy. 12 S.
Atherley, ON  L3V 6H7

Phone: 705-325-5776
Tues - Thurs: 10:00 a.m. 
to 8:00 p.m. 
Fri: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
Sat: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Ramara Public Library

Brechin Branch
3242 Ramara Rd. 47
Brechin, ON  L0K 1B0

Phone: 705-484-0476
Tues - Thurs: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Fri: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
Sat: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.


Narrows 2


Further information can be obtained by contacting John McMullen at the City of Orillia by telephone at 705-322-2060, or by email at jmcmullen@orillia.ca.

If concerns regarding this project cannot be resolved in discussion with the City of Orillia, a person or party may request that the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change make an order for the project to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act (referred to as a Part II Order), which addresses Individual Environmental Assessments. The Minister must receive requests by December 14, 2015, with a copy sent to the CAO / City Clerk at the address indicated below. If there are no requests to change the status of the project to an Individual EA by this date, the City may proceed with detailed design and construction. The timing of construction is subject to completion of design, applicable permits and funding.

 

Hon. Glen R. Murray

Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
11th Floor, 77 Wellesley St. W.
Toronto, ON  M7A 2T5

Director, Environmental Approvals Branch

Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
11th Floor, 77 Wellesley St. W.
Toronto, ON  M7A 2T5

   
John McMullen

Manager of Park Planning and Development
50 Andrew St. S., Suite 300
Orillia, ON  L3V7T5

 


Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and the Environmental Assessment Act, unless otherwise stated in the submission, any personal information included in a submission will become part of the public record files for this matter and will be released, if requested, to any person.


Project Summary

The purpose of this project is to provide a recreational trail connection across the Atherley Narrows which would address a missing gap that currently exists within the Trans Canada Trail system. Ultimately, this will provide a safe crossing for snowmobilers, who currently use the lake to interconnect within the City and the township.    

  • The preliminary concept and vision includes:
    • Pedestrian and snowmobile bridge crossing at the Atherley Narrows 
    • Interpretive centre incorporated into the bridge abutment
    • Platform at the water's edge for sacred ceremonies 
    • Wooden boardwalk
    • Restorative landscape as part of the approach to the bridge

 

Narrows 3


Atherley Narrows Bridge Project Environmental Assessment

The City of Orillia, in partnership with the Township of Ramara and the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, and through their consultant AECOM, is undertaking a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study to assess the opportunity to provide a recreational trail connection across the Atherley Narrows, enhance existing significant cultural heritage features and establish a place of ceremony for Aboriginal people. This EA study is being carried out in accordance with the planning and design process for Schedule 'C' projects as outlined in the Municipal Class EA document (October 2000, as amended in 2007 & 2011), approved under theEnvironmental Assessment Act.

Additional Information

The Atherley Narrows Bridge Committee was established in 2011 and is comprised of representatives from the City of Orillia, the Township of Ramara, the Chippewas of Rama First Nation and various trail associations and user groups.

This past year, the City was successful in receiving a Trans Canada Trail grant in the amount of $30,000 which allowed the EA process to continue and address additional EA studies as required by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. 

  • These studies included a Heritage Impact Assessment, Cultural Assessment and Marine Archaeological Assessment. The studies commenced in the summer of 2014 and are nearing completion.
  • The committee works closely with the consulting team and is also actively investigating a land ownership issue related to the future bridge abutments which appears to be Crown Land on either side of the Narrows.  These blocks currently do not have any registered title.
  • In the Major Capital Facilities plan, Council has allocated funding of $1,500,000 for the construction of the Atherley Narrows Bridge contingent on partner and grant funding.


Photo of the Atherley Swing Bridgefrom 1928         1907 - Conception of the Ancient Fishing Wiers
     
The Atherley Narrows Swing Bridge in 1920   Conception of the Ancient Fishing Wiers in 1907

 

 

Orillia logo

© City of Orillia, 50 Andrew Street South, Suite 300, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 7T5, Tel: (705) 325-1311, Fax: (705) 325-5178, Email: info@orillia.ca

Privacy2big4emailSitemapStaff DirectoryAccessibility & Communications
By GHD Digital

Take Me To...

Business Info

  • Business Resources
  • City Profile
  • Demographics and Population
  • Incentives & Funding
  • Why Orillia?

City Info

  • Transit
  • Recreation Facility
  • By-laws, Municipal Code
  • Parking & Ticket Payments
  • Applications, Licences & Permits
  • Mayor & Council
  • Weekly Bulletin Board
  • Major Projects

Recreation Info

  • Community Parks
  • Recreation Programs
  • Beaches
  • Trails
  • Recreation Facilities & Parks
  • Outdoor Ice Rinks
  • Changes and Cancellations

Visitor Info

  • Discover & Do
  • Events
  • Getting Around Orillia
  • Orillia Opera House
  • Port of Orillia
  • Shop & Dine
  • Stay & Plan
  • Stephen Leacock Museum

Waste & Landfill Info

  • Garbage/Recycling/Green Bin Pickup
  • Waste Collection Schedule
  • Landfill Site
  • Landfill Hours
  • Garbage Tags
  • Items/Fees
  • Green Bin/Compost
  • Recycling Tips
  • Recycling Collection
x

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.