A vital recreation and transportation link in Liverpool could reopen as early as this fall if Region of Queens Municipality provides $90,000 in funding.
Brian Hatt of the Queens Rails to Trails Association outlined the group’s plan to repair the Trestle Trail Bridge during the June 26 council meeting.
The bridge, closed by the municipality in November 2014 due to safety concerns, spans the Mersey River and connects the west end of Liverpool to two trails. One trail leads to the commercial area at the intersection of Milton Road and Bristol Avenue and the other to Pine Grove Park.
Rails to Trails assumed control of the bridge in a 2016 agreement with the municipality. Based on a report from engineering and environmental consulting firm CBCL Ltd., Hatt presented council with a three-phase program to restore the former rail corridor to a “new or like new” condition. The first phase is projected to cost $490,000 and could see the Trestle Trail bridge reopen to pedestrian, bicycle and other non-motorized traffic as early as this fall.
“Once we do the immediate repairs, that means we can open the bridge again,” Hatt said.
“The main focus of the immediate recommendations is the work required necessary [sic] before reopening the bridge to trail traffic,” said the report from CBCL. “The major work required here is the rehabilitation of Pier 1 and south abutment. Minor work could include repairs to the timber decking and railing, and restoration of lighting.”
The group has already secured more than 80 per cent of the money needed for phase one.
“We have confirmation from the province that they’ll provide $150,000,” Hatt said. “And we’ve got confirmation from the (J and W) Murphy Foundation that they’ll provide $250,000.” RQM is being asked to cover the remaining $90,000 needed for immediate repairs.
The other two phases carry a combined price tag of $1.08 million and would take up to 10 years to complete. The bridge would be opened to ATV traffic at some point during this period.
Hatt told council the Murphy Foundation has committed $250,000 per year for the first three years. However, foundation trustee Lisa Murphy said only the first year’s contribution is fully guaranteed. “Our pledge to the Trestle Trail project … is ‘up to’ $750,000 over three years,” she told LighthouseNow via electronic message. The funding for years two and three is “challenge” funding, she said, meaning Rails to Trails needs to raise “at least that much from other independent sources” to qualify for the full amount offered by the Murphy family.
“We love this project and know how much it means both to folks who live in the immediate area and as an attraction for visitors,” said Murphy. “But we want to ensure that Rails to Trails positions itself for long-term successful stewardship. And that means enough committed money coming in to meet the 10-plus-year repair horizon facing them.”
Following Hatt’s presentation, Mayor David Dagley said municipal staff would study the group’s request for funding and provide a recommendation to council. No timeline was given for a vote on the matter.
LighthouseNow Progress Bulletin
July 4, 2018
Scott Costen 