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Seymour River footbridge to be built this summer

North Vancouver trail users are getting the new bridge they’ve been clamouring for. Metro Vancouver has awarded a contract for replacement of the Twin Bridges over the Seymour River. Work is set to begin in the coming weeks on a 2.
bridge

North Vancouver trail users are getting the new bridge they’ve been clamouring for.

Metro Vancouver has awarded a contract for replacement of the Twin Bridges over the Seymour River. Work is set to begin in the coming weeks on a 2.5-metre-wide rigid suspension bridge to reconnect   Fisherman’s Trail along the river’s west and east banks.

“It’s been a missing link in the (Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve) for a long time now and it will be good to get people going west and east again,” said Mike Mayers, superintendent of environmental management for Metro. “We’re hoping the suspension bridge is open sometime in August.”

Hikers, cyclists and equestrians have been cut off from the trail link since 2014 when a rockslide resulted in the original bridge being flooded out. Though the water has receded somewhat, the pilings are almost a 100 years old and no longer meet acceptable standards for flood risk.

Metro attempted to get the bridge rebuilt in 2017 but found the only qualified bids came in at almost twice the budget. After opening the project up to bids again this year, Metro has awarded the roughly $2-million contract to Surespan Construction.

The existing trails will remain open during most of the construction period. Metro will also be replacing the single-lane vehicular bridge at the top of Riverside Drive and the Baden Powell staircase.