The Regional District of Nanaimo now has a detailed design of a new bridge it plans to build at Little Qualicum River Regional Park.
The old bridge was taken down in 2017 due to safety concerns. The RDN board agreed to replace it for recreational access, environmental concerns and emergency access.The replacement bridge project was then included in the five-year regional parks capital plan and $750,000 was alloted for the new crossing.
Herold Engineering completed a detailed design and costing for the new bridge. It identified the cost to construct a dual steel girder and cast-in-place concrete bridge to be $839,910, with construction projected to start in 2020.
However, the amount the RDN earmarked for the project is not enough to cover the $839,910 estimated cost of the new bridge. Staff recommended that the board increase the funding for the project when the 2020-2024 financial plan is established.
Staff also recommended the bridge replacement project to proceed to tender.
The regional district acquired the Little Qualicum River property in 1999 as parkland dedication from the Qualicum River Estates subdivision process. The park borders private residential lands, private development lands (Wicklow West Holdings), the Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park to the south, and Island Timberlands property to the northeast. Meadowood Community Park also adjoins the park along Galvin Place.
The acquisition included the haul bridge across the river that was damaged and eventually torn down.