The Winterbourne bridge is described by HistoricBridges.org as: “A very rare example of a multi-span, pin-connected Camelback truss bridge in Ontario, with excellent historic integrity and no major alterations, adding to its significance." It is also an important landmark in its rural landscape and a favourite subject for painters, including Peter Etril Snyder), photographers (e.g. Carl Hiebert) and filmmakers.

It is rated as having significant heritage value in three separate studies of heritage bridges in the Grand River Watershed/Waterloo Region (Grand Old Bridges, Spanning the Generations, Arch, Truss & Beam) and found to meet four of the nine criteria contained in Regulation 9/06 Ontario Heritage Act.  But the Winterbourne bridge is not designated nor is it listed by the local municipality.

2016, GMBluePlan Engineering noted numerous defects in its report, which called for major rehabilitation, including concrete repairs, replacing floor beams, deck, stringers, repairing tension cables, etc. Estimated cost: $760,000.

December 15 2020, Woolwich Township staff recommended that Council demolish the Pratt camelback through truss bridge and replace it with a cement bridge.

Kim Hodgson of ACO North Waterloo Region formed a Facebook group, Friends of Winterbourne Bridge and asked ACO Board Chair Kae Elgie for help. Elgie and Hodgson made presentations to Woolwich Council’s December 15 meeting requesting Council designate the bridge. 

Council deferred a decision for three months, until after its 2021 budget is passed. This gives the Friends of Winterbourne Bridge and ACO time to rally support and seek alternate opinions on the reparability and life expectancy of the bridge.