SVHTS pleased after ministry agrees to add pedestrian access into on Highway 3A construction design
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Director for the Slocan Valley Heritage Trail Society is pleased with a recent announcement that sees the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure designing a pedestrian underpass into plans to replace the South Slocan Bridge on Highway 3A.
Craig Lawrence said the SVHTS has been lobbying the ministry to build a tunnel under the newly constructed highway that would allow trail users to cross from one side of the highway to the other safely.
The South Slocan Bridge is located a few kilometers east of the Highway 3A/6 junction.
“That’s great news,” Lawrence told The Nelson Daily.
“We’re now looking forward to seeing some details.”
Following an open house March 1 at Mount Sentinel High School attended by local Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff to answer questions from the public, Minister Todd Stone made an announcement about the project.
“We heard loud and clear the concerns of local residents in maintaining trail access underneath this bridge,” Stone said.
“This is another example of collaboration between all levels of government to ensure we’re meeting the needs of the local community, while ensuring safety remains top of mind as we move forward with replacing this important bridge connecting these communities.”
The bridge at South Slocan was built in the early 1960s and is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Ministry staff wants to replace the bridge, using fill to bring the heavily travelled highway back to its current height.
Construction would also see a wider radius curve for the new stretch of highway, better alignment, better sight lines; two meter paved shoulders as well as a left-turn lane into the South Slocan Village Road for westbound traffic.
However, the design did not include pedestrian access — until now.
“We’ve been working towards this announcement for a long, long time,” Lawrence said.
“A lot of people including us at the SVHTS are feeling really optimistic right now.”
“We’d like to thank everyone for their support and taking the time to be come out and heard,” Lawrence added.
Stone said the ministry is working closely with local government, the SVHTS, the Trans Canada Trail Society and the Regional District of Central Kootenay to further enhance trail connectivity in the area.
A tender process is planned for late 2016 with construction anticipated to start in spring of 2017.
