Province seeks input on Cowichan Valley trestle bridge replacement
The British Columbia government is looking for public input on the proposed replacement of a century-old rail trestle that was repurposed as a recreational trail connector between Duncan and Lake Cowichan.
The proposal seeks to replace Holt Creek Bridge, part of the Cowichan Valley Trail, with a new steel structure that would accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and horses.
The proposed design is also sturdy enough to carry maintenance equipment and emergency vehicles that need to access the area, according to the province.
The bridge is located southeast of Lake Cowichan, just west of Glenora Trails Head Park. In 2018, the Cowichan Valley regional district reported more than 25,000 visitors used the park annually.
The existing Holt Creek Bridge opened in 1922 and served as a rail bridge until 1991, when CN Rail handed the line over to the province.
Structural improvements and upgrades were made to the bridge in 2002 and 2018, but a structural assessment in 2017 found the bridge was nearing the end of its lifespan and recommended a complete replacement rather than continued repairs.
The province says the new bridge would span the entire stream below, removing the need for creosote-treated timbers in the waterway.
The existing wooden trestle bridge spans 73 metres while the new bridge design is one metre longer and features concrete footings, steel girders and a timber deck.
Cowichan Valley Trail users and others interested in the Holt Creek Bridge are invited to an information session on March 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cowichan Community Centre at 2687 James St. in Duncan.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff will attend the meeting to answer questions about the project.
Following the design and funding approval phases, construction of the new bridge would begin in late 2023 or early 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.