LAC DES ARCS – Due to a lack of need and opposition from residents, the planned Lac Des Arcs pedestrian bridge project has been cancelled by the MD of Bighorn council.
Prior to the 2013 flood, residents had constructed a homemade structure to cross the creek, but it was washed away. A pedestrian bridge was proposed but it was deferred until the Heart Creek flood mitigations could be completed.
“After the 2013 flood, there was a need that was identified to construct a pedestrian bridge,” said Bill Luka, director of operations.
In May, council authorized administration to seek input from the residents in the Lac Des Arcs area on two design proposals or to have no bridge at all.
The first bridge proposal used log girders and a single handrail. It was the most affordable design and would cost $75,000 for approvals, design, and construction, while the second bridge proposal used steel girders with a double guardrail and cost $106,000.
A questionnaire was sent out to 88 properties in the area. The MD received 35 responses, 21 of which preferred no bridge. Only four responses thought the steel girder bridge was the best option, while 10 wanted the log girder bridge.
“From the community feedback, the street and roads committee are recommending the project be cancelled and the remaining funds be put into the bridge reserve,” said Luka.
Reeve Lisa Rosvold said after the flood in 2013, the trail near the bridge was also washed out and is not used very often by residents.
“It seems as though the need to have this bridge is no longer as there is no longer a trail.”
Of the $75,000 budget on the bridge, $7,900 had been spent on the survey, design and hydrotechnical review. The remaining $67,100 will now be retained in the bridge reserve.
Coun. Rick Tuza felt many residents seemed to be surprised by the high costs related to the bridge.
“I noticed in some of the letters that a lot of people were surprised by the costs and felt the money could be spent elsewhere,” he said.
Coun. Alice James asked administration if the price estimates were reasonable since "it seems to me that a lot of the objections revolve around the cost."
Luka said the cost estimates were reasonable. James asked if there were other places to cross the river, which Luka confirmed, as did CAO Robert Ellis.
“I have been down there quite a bit and you can easily walk across the creek,” Ellis said. “People have placed rocks you can walk across.”
