Blue Mountains is looking to fix up the landmark Trestle Bridge in Thornbury.
The popular timber bridge that overlooks the Beaver River has started to deteriorate.
The proposed Trestle Bridge Rehabilitation Project is applying for funding from The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program.
That federal program is giving Southern Ontario 44.4 million dollars over two years, and 150 million dollars nationwide in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017.
Work on the Trestle Bridge will include removing deteriorated timber, adding bases to a level of wood with new decorative footings, repairing the timber ballast and concrete pier.
The cost of the project is estimated at $400,000.
With $133,333 to come from the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program Grant and the same amount from the Georgian Trail Board of Management Reserve Fund.
Another $133,333 is to be funded by the Towns Working Capital in which will be discussed in the 2016 Budget.
It’s part of Blue Mountain’s strategic plan to preserve the historic and cultural significance of the bridge.
Mayor John McKean says there are “very few of those trestle bridges left in Southern Ontario, and it really is a landmark.”
McKean adds, “Over the course of last August over 10 thousand people crossed it.”
Work would be done in the spring before the bridge’s busy season.
The Canada 150 Grant requires projects to be substantially completed by 2018.
The Grant is given to rehabilitation and expansion projects for existing parts of a community, including events, memorials, plaques and facilities.