Construction crews in Woolwich Township are currently working on the foundations of the historic West Montrose Covered Bridge as part of a $12 million rehabilitation project aimed at preserving the landmark. Workers are continuing to install concrete and steel reinforcing bars at the top of the bridge supports to prepare for the installation of a temporary support structure.
This temporary support system will keep the 145-year-old bridge stable while crews repair its main load-carrying components, including the original wooden truss. The Region of Waterloo, which has owned and maintained the site since 1998, began the project in August 2025. The work is expected to be complete by the end of December 2026.
Known locally as the Kissing Bridge, the structure spans 205 feet across the Grand River. It earned its nickname in the 1800s, when local couples would stop inside the bridge for a kiss as an informal toll to cross. It remains the last historic covered bridge in Ontario that is open to vehicle traffic, with a current weight limit of three tonnes.
The rehabilitation project, managed by the region’s senior engineer of design and construction Michelle Pinto, includes replacing worn-out wood, the roof, and siding. Crews are also removing an old steel support system and will install height restriction bars at both bridge approaches to prevent oversized vehicles from causing damage in the future. In-water work, which included protecting the bridge foundations from erosion, was completed in November 2025.
Built in 1881 by local barn builder John Bear, the bridge was designated as a Provincial Historic Site in 1960 and was later listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places in 2007. The BridgeKeepers, a local residents’ association, continues to advocate for the care and protection of the heritage structure throughout the ongoing construction process.
