Crushed hopes Policy interpretation puts a cork in charity’s plans Page A3
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Cyclists and walkers use the 96-year-old Selkirk Trestle, part of the Galloping Goose trail, as a route to get across the Upper Harbour. Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Aging trestle sparks questions over costs I
Roszan Holmen Reporting
t may be bumpy and poorly lit, but these inconveniences haven’t put a dent in the popularity of the Selkirk Trestle. Today, the old train bridge is crowded with cyclists and pedestrians, boasting more than 700,000 crossings annually. But the wood-planked deck and lighting issues could soon be overshadowed by other problems that would require costly repairs. A recent condition report of the trestle reveals the 96-year-old structure needs attention. And a reread of the 1993 lease agreement between the province and the Capital Regional District leaves more questions than answers surrounding who will pay to keep the trail bridge in working order. The extent of the problems facing the trestle came to the attention of the CRD in late 2011. At that time, the condition report of the trestle’s lift span revealed too many problems
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to safely open the bridge to allow boats to pass underneath. Lloyd Rushton, general manager of CRD parks, turned to the province for help. “We trust that, as owners of the bridge, the Province will carry out any necessary repairs to enable the CRD to resume its operation of the lift span,” Rushton wrote in a letter to the Ministry of Transportation dated Dec. 23, 2011. In response, the province paid 83 per cent of a $25,000 bill for repairs to the lift that were deemed urgent. The job isn’t finished, however. More costly repairs are needed by summer 2014 to prevent further deterioration of the structural steel. The cost estimate of the next phase of work was redacted from the report, obtained by the News through a Freedom of Information request, but CRD parks manager Jeff Ward said repairs will
PLEASE SEE: Trestle cost-sharing, Page A14
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cost in the high tens of thousands of dollars. The 1993 agreement between the two governments for use of the Galloping Goose trail gives little instruction as to the roles and responsibilities for maintenance and repairs. The document makes no specific mention of the Selkirk Trestle, apart from its inclusion in the trail system. It requires simply that the tenant (the Capital Regional District) keep the premises safe, clean and sanitary, and that the tenant will repair “reasonable wear and tear.” The condition report also calls for increased maintenance of the trestle, such as greasing the lift’s gear and shafts. Until now, that work hasn’t been done regularly.
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