Committee approves design for pedestrian bridge over Conestogo River

Waterloo Regional councillors have approved the next step in building a missing piece of the Guelph to Goderich rail trail.

People may be able to use a new pedestrian bridge over the Conestogo River within the next few years.

The Region of Waterloo’s Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee unanimously voted in favour of approving a design for a two-span trestle bridge that would connect Guelph and Goderich via the G2G Trail, which is also known as the Kissing Bridge Trailway. The motion also called for regional staff to move forward with detailed design and construction planning.

A staff report said the estimated total cost of the bridge is $8.26 million, including contingency funding, but delegates at the committee meeting said there are people eager to lend a hand.

“One community member has committed $3 million towards construction and recently a second has offered an additional $2.5 million - $5.5 million in total,” Jill Murray-Dimic, director of fundraising for the Ontario Conservation Accelerator, said during the meeting on Tuesday. “That level of private philanthropy is exceptional, and it is possible because this project is nearly shovel-ready. It has a bridge design in place and the potential to build this year.”

Fellow delegate Willow Hall said other community members have also committed to hundreds of smaller donations.

“To date, our community has invested more than $2.6 million into this section of trail, and for this bridge project alone, community groups have secured private donor commitments of $5.5 million,” Hall said. “That means roughly 67 per cent of this project is being covered by community contributions.”

Although the region attempted to secure funding through the province, they were unsuccessful.

Delegates and regional staff both said they hope to begin work on the bridge this year so it can be enjoyed for years to come. Once completed, it would connect parts of the trail that have been separated for years.

The plan still needs the approval of Regional Council.