NEW - JUNE - Information on Bridge Damage and Trail Impacts
Background
January 2022
The SCRD Board approved funding to hire a consultant to review the bridges as well as the yellow and red trails and provide options for removal, replacement, repair or relocation that included considerations for mitigating future flooding event risks. Due to staffing vacancies and competing priorities, the consultant was not secured until early 2023.SCRD also applied to the federal government for disaster recovery funding as a follow-up to the event and was denied.
January 2024
The SCRD received the consultant’s final report, which outlined options for trail recovery and bridge remediation.May 2024
Staff presented a report to the SCRD Board (May 23, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting) recommending:Permanent closure and decommissioning of the Lower Waterfall Bridge and Zig Zag Bridge.
Replacement of the Gorge Bridge and Upper Waterfall Bridge.
Extensive trail remediation throughout Cliff Gilker Park to address safety and resilience.
July 2024
A community questionnaire was issued to gather feedback on proposed closures, replacements, and trail upgrades.The SCRD Board approved a reduced scope of work for the project (Resolution #318/24 Recommendation No. 62), $1.2 million in funding to:
Replace the Gorge and Upper Waterfall Bridges.
Remove the Lower Waterfall and Zig Zag Bridges.
Undertake critical trail remediation and resiliency improvements.
The project is to be funded by Community Works Funds
Background: Bridge Damage and Trail Impacts
In November 2021, an atmospheric river event caused widespread damage across the Sunshine Coast. At Cliff Gilker Park, two pedestrian bridges; the Lower Waterfall Bridge and the Zig Zag Bridge were severely damaged and closed immediately for public safety.
This extreme weather event also caused extensive trail damage, fallen trees, and flooding throughout multiple SCRD parks. As the event had not been accounted for in the Parks Department’s annual work plan, the clean-up required significant unplanned resources and time.
Timeline
Staff were directed to submit a budget proposal for the Cliff Gilker Recovery Project as part of the 2025-2029 Financial Planning process
Late 2024 / Early 2025
Following community input, a staff report was presented to the Board providing remediation options for consideration during budget deliberations (November 25-26, 2024 Finance Committee Staff Report)
June 2025
While on site, staff observed a significant crack in the main support beam of the Gorge Bridge. The bridge was closed immediately for public safety. An engineering assessment the following day confirmed structural failure in one of the Gorge Bridge’s main support beams. The Gorge Bridge replacement is included in the approved project budget, and the bridge will remain closed until the project is completed.
Common Questions
Tendering the project (up to 90 days),
Contractor selection and award,
Design finalization and materials procurement (approximately 60 additional days),
And then construction, subject to environmental conditions and permitting timelines.
Noxious Weed Removal program at John Daley Park (provincially regulated)
Completion of the Katherine Lake Park Access Road (final studies to confirm any ongoing monitoring of the riparian area)
Cliff Gilker Sports Field recovery (final stages)
Coopers Green Park Enhancement project
Halfmoon Bay Community Hall construction
Cliff Gilker Sports Field Irrigation System
Seaview Cemetery Expansion
Vinebrook bridge design
Sunshine Coast Sports Field Strategy
Parks Service Review
Over 1500 hectares of parkland with over 100 beach accesses and community parks, one campground, five sports fields and five community halls extending across the lower Sunshine Coast from Port Melon to Egmont.
Parks also maintains over 70 km of trails, along with other park amenities such as playgrounds, covered picnic areas, bridges, access roads and parking lots, park furniture and garbage receptacles, and permanent washroom facilities
What’s Happened Since the Gorge Bridge Closure?
Public Communication
The SCRD communications team has issued widespread messaging via social media and the SCRD website. A news article covering the closure was published in the Coast Reporter on June 6 (online and print).
Wayfinding and Trail Access
Temporary wayfinding maps were posted in the park. Staff are developing updated signage to reflect the closure, as it impacts how visitors navigate through Cliff Gilker.
Engineering Assessment
A professional engineering review confirmed that the bridge posed a safety risk and recommended immediate closure.
When will bridge replacement work begin?
Bridge replacement is anticipated to begin in 2026, but this does not guarantee completion within the year. The process includes:
What materials will the new bridges be built from?
Based on recommendations presented to the Finance Committee in November 2024, the preferred bridge designs will prioritize suitability for durability and cost-effectiveness. Aluminum or steel trusses are under consideration due to resilience to future climate events, such as atmospheric rivers. Wood is not recommended for long-term structural reliability in this setting. Further, design requirements need to conform with contemporary bridge design codes and guidelines for pedestrian, cycling and multiuse.
Will there be opportunity for volunteers to assist with the recovery project?
Yes, that is the intention.
There will be components of the project that require qualified technical expertise, like the bridge construction. These types of structures are governed by far more stringent regulations than when some of the original structures were built. All bridge work must follow provincial and federal permitting, safety, and environmental standards.
But there will also be work where volunteers can get involved. This component will be built into the project planning and promoted at the appropriate time.
Before any work begins, the project must meet the requirements of the Federal Fisheries Act, Provincial Water Sustainability Act, as well as provincial Wildlife and Species at Risk Acts. A professional biologist (QEP) will need to be engaged during the planning, permitting, and construction phases. Finally, there will be required site assessments related to archeological considerations.
Can Parks staff prioritize this project?
The Board recently adopted a Corporate Workplan in which this project is slated to begin in 2026. In addition to the provision of day to day parks services, operational projects and responsibilities, projects also underway for the Parks Division include:
Parks operations staff (5.5 Permanent FTE plus 3 summer staff) maintain:
Given this wide scope, staff are often in a “response mode” addressing critical and urgent issues. Some site visits and response to issues take a full day due to travel time.
How is the bridge replacement funded?
Funding for this project, including two bridge replacements, two bridge removals, and trail remediation has been approved by the SCRD Board at a total of $1.2 million which is being funded through Community Works Funds.
When will the Recovery Project be complete?
The project is slated to begin in 2026. The project schedule would be developed after the project has been awarded in the spring.