Burnaby staff are hoping to link part of the trail at Deer Lake Park with a new pedestrian bridge.
City staff have recommended council approve the bridge at the northeast side of Deer Lake Trail, crossing over Deer Lake Brook.
Pedestrians currently have to leave the trail and walk along the sidewalk at Deer Lake Avenue to cross the brook, as the trail doesn’t have a “continuous water’s edge route around the lake,” according to a staff report going to council March 11.
Staff are proposing a 36.4-metre-long truss bridge over the brook with a three-metre-wide deck.
A 100-m boardwalk to the east and 35-m boardwalk to the west would “ensure a seamless transition” with the existing trail, according to the report.
The construction cost is an estimated $3.7 million, excluding GST.
Staff recognized the sensitivity of the Deer Lake location.
“While the improvements are relatively minor, this is a complex project largely due to the fact that the project area has been identified as both environmentally and archeologically sensitive,” stated the staff report.
The city said it has given “careful consideration” to these matters and expect an extended project timeline to get various provincial and federal permits and an archeological impact assessment (which includes engagement with First Nations) before beginning construction.
The bridge is expected to take “at least 12 to 24 months to complete,” subject to getting the permits.
Staff said the proposed plan “minimizes disturbance to existing trees and sensitive ecological areas,” and the city would prioritize composite materials to reduce weather and environmental impacts.
Staff also examined a second bridge option with a four-metre-wide deck, but it increased the costs by almost 30 per cent to $5.1 million “and has the potential to cause increased disruption to the ecologically sensitive area and wildlife,” so staff did not recommend that option.
Instead, the bridge as proposed in the report would have a 75-year lifespan and “minimal” annual maintenance costs.
Deer Lake Park attracts more than 600,000 visitors annually, according to the report.
Council will discuss and vote on the project at its meeting March 11.
