South Muskoka River 195 - Bracebridge, ON
Posted by: 
13acres
N 45° 01.710 W 079° 18.328
17T E 633488 N 4987513
An eleven span bridge over the South Muskoka River
Waymark Code: WM1324F
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 08/30/2020
Views: 0
At mile marker 121.12 from Toronto (8.76 on the original Huntsville Sub) in the town of Bracebridge is a very impressive 11 span structure that cross the South Muskoka River. It is listed in the 1907 Grand Trunk Railroad Buildings & Bridges Inventory as bridge number 195. From south to north, the bridge starts out on a stone abutment with an approach span of rolled beams and then a mix of riveted deck plate girders ranging from 18 to 49 feet supported on steel piers with concrete footings. Two stone piers then support the impressive center span that is a 4 panel steel riveted Warren deck truss spanning 202 feet one half inch. The bridge finishes off with another riveted deck plate girder span to the north stone abutment. The spans and stonework have a completed date of 1894 and the center span has a completed date of 1906. The south view is quite obstructed with trees and is quite a distance in from the river so we couldn't get photographs of the south abutment.
With information from cnr-in-ontario.com and railwaypages.com
The coordinates N45° 01.710 W079° 18.328 were taken right under the center of the west side as I was in my kayak to access this bridge.
Access
To access the bridge, make your way to exit 189 on Highway 11 and travel down Taylor Road towards Bracebridge 2.3km. Turn left Manitoba Street and travel 200m to the four way stop. Keep slightly right to Ecclestone Drive and travel 1.5km. Turn right on Wellington Street South and travel 450m. Turn left on Santa's Village Road and travel 400m to Annie Williams Park. The parking and launching coordinates are N45° 01.716 W079° 19.162. Launch and paddle upriver 1.7km to the bridge.
