BC Hydro says you will come across significant construction activity with excavators and dump trucks as you walk to the Elk Falls suspension bridge.
According to senior stakeholder engagement advisor Stephen Watson, the construction is going to increase this fall and it will need a trail re-route a few times so people can continue to get to the bridge.
“The trail to the suspension bridge will be temporarily rerouted onto a new berm just to the east or downstream of the pedestrian steel bridge crossing over the old penstock excavation,” said Watson. “We will then remove the pedestrian bridge and finish the construction of the new berm just to the west or upstream of the current pedestrian bridge crossing.
“When that’s complete, we will permanently relocate the trail this fall onto that berm. It will be a land-based trail to the suspension bridge, with the trail built to the same five per cent slope as is in place for the current trail system.”
Watson adds they will be removing around 75,000 cubic metres, or around 30 Olympic sized swimming pools, of material from the John Hart Dam reservoir and fill in the decommissioned penstock. They are hoping to be done by early October.
Safety signage, info signs and fencing are in place and Watson says they will be moved around as the work progresses.
“About 200,000 people visit the suspension bridge each year, and knowing how important this community is, we’re trying hard to keep it open during this work and most importantly, keep people safe,” said Watson.
“We have been closely coordinating with BC Parks staff so we can safely do the work yet limit the disruption and impact to the adjacent Elk Falls Provincial Park, including to the people visiting it.”
Watson adds once the seismic upgrades are made to the dam by 2030, the dam will be able to withstand a major earthquake and be able to safely pass water downstream after the event has taken place.
