THUNDER BAY -- A footbridge declared unsafe four years ago has been officially replaced.
City officials celebrated the official opening of the new Trowbridge Falls Pedestrian Bridge, an $800,000 project that connects the Trowbridge Falls Park area to Centennial Park.
The wooden support structure of the old bridge was condemned by engineers in 2010 due to rot, necessitating a solution in the popular recreation area.
The bridge, which has a paved deck to allow access for emergency and maintenance vehicles and equipment, spans 40 metres across the Current River.
“The arched trusses reference the visual form of the old bridge and the stamped coloured concrete abutments and self-oxidizing steel of the support structure blend in well with the natural surroundings,” park planning coordinator Werner Schwar was quoted in a media release.
It was estimated the city could have repaired the old span at a cost of $400,000 for a 20 year lifespan.
The new bridge is said to have an expected lifespan of 50 years.
The Trans Canada Trail organization contributed $155,000 towards the project.
