The existing bridge at Little Qualicum River Regional Park is being demolished today (Sept. 7).
The Regional District of Nanaimo is advising the public to stay away from the construction area. Due to safety concerns, the RDN has decided to remove the bridge. Staff are now working on plans to build a new one.
The RDN altered its original plan to just rejuvenate the bridge this year as the cost to upgrade it has gone up since it was approved in 2015 from $125,000 to $432,389. Staff recommended to the board that a new bridge be built instead.
Mark Dobbs, superintendent of Parks Operations and Capital Projects, stated in his report to the board a new bridge would be a sensible decision. Due to the undetermined age of the bridge’s structural components, and also the unknowns that might be uncovered during construction, the cost to upgrade could be higher. However a new bridge that would cost between $600,000 and $700,000 will last 75 years.
The design and construction of the new bridge will be considered for inclusion in the 5-year-Regional Parks Capital Plan.