The Comox Valley Bridge Project Steering Committee was inspired by the City of Golden's story. A small community successfully built a timber frame pedestrian bridge across the Kicking Horse River uniting their community physically and emotionally through this project.

The Comox Valley 6th Street Timber Frame Pedestrian Bridge Project has the same potential for our region. We hope you enjoy this inspirational story.

Over the past year, much has been done to move the Comox Valley Pedestrian bridge project forward.

The next important step is to generate the actual design.

The goal is to raise $20,000 through the Founder's Fund. The Timber Framers Guild (TFG) will match this amount and will provide drawings and accurate cost estimates for the project.

To get the whole story ... here is the link to the Founders Fund Letter

The Comox Valley Pedestrian/Cycling Bridge Project is a community project to connect and enhance pedestrian and cycling infrastructure that is being enjoyed in Courtenay today. 

from the Comox Valley Record - 19 Feb 2013
by Renne Andor

    Although a grant for the proposed wooden bridge in downtown Courtenay was turned down, project supporters say they won't give up.
    "We're moving forward in getting the funding to make it happen," Phillipa Atwood, president elect for the Rotary Club of Strathcona Sunrise, told Courtenay council Monday, adding fundraising will likely play a big role in generating the money. "We want to work to make this happen."
    The City of Courtenay applied for a $1.9-million grant under the Gas Tax Innovation Fund in May, but was notified late last month that the application was unsuccessful.
    The City's application to the Gas Tax General Strategic Priorities Fund for $1.75 million to recoat the Fifth Street Bridge was also unsuccessful.


The rest of the article can be found at this link  http://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/news/191865641.html

The minutes of the meeting can be found at this link.

Questions and comments can be sent to CVBridgeProject@gmail.com

From the Comox Valley Echo

http://www.comoxvalleyecho.com/article/20121207/COMOX0101/312079957/-1/comox0101/four-designs-drawn-up-for-landmark-wooden-bridge

Consultants have drawn up four conceptual designs for a landmark pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Courtenay River at the foot of Sixth Street.

Details have not been revealed, but City staff are now working with the consultants - Associated Engineering Ltd - and the Courtenay River People's Bridge Steering Committee in a bid to narrow the choice down to one preferred design.

A final report from the consultants is expected by mid-January, to be followed by a staff report to City councillors on the issues and options in February.

The design concepts and other survey work and feasibility studies have been funded through a $70,000 grant drawn from council reserves, but there is no budget provision - at least at this stage - to actually build a bridge.

An application was made in May for a $1.9 million grant towards construction costs from the Gas Tax Innovations Fund, but the outcome of that is not yet known.

Randy Churchill, the president of the Timber Framers Guild and a Comox Valley resident, said guild members from across North America remain keen to help build the bridge.

"Our membership is very interested in bringing our professional heavy timber construction skills to Courtenay and conducting a massive educational training event in conjunction with the creation of this important landmark structure for the city," he said. The TFG had helped undertake similar bridge projects with great success elsewhere, he added - including at Golden in the Rockies.

And Harry Holland, the chair of the local steering committee, commented: "The community at large continues to be very enthused about the project and are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the grant application." He had been advised a decision on the bid would be made by the Union of B.C. Municipalities before the end of this year.

Other organizations that have publicity supported the project include local Rotary Clubs, cycling groups and representatives of the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association.

Meetings with local Provincial and Federal political representatives, MLA Don McRae (July 9) and MP John Duncan (July 16) were the highlights of the month.

We received their full endorsement for the Bridge Project. Don McRae was to follow up with the Municipal Affairs Department in Victoria for an expected decision date of our Application for funding under the 2012/13 Federal / Provincial Gas Tax Refund Inovation Program.

He subsequently advised that the announcement for the awarding of the grants was expected towards the end of this year.

In other news, the concept drawings for the bridge are being prepared by Associated Engineering of Vancouver and Comox. They have been consulting with both City of Courtenay Engineering staff and our representative, member/director of the Timber Framers Guild, Randy Churchill.

It is expected the completed drawings will be presented to Courtenay Engineering staff in mid August.

Although we seem to be in the summer doldrums, interest continues almost daily regarding the proposed Pedestrian/Cycling Bridge Project.

Application to Victoria for a Pedestrian/Cycling Bridge construction funding Grant of $1.9 million was made by the City of Courtenay with the assistance of the Steering Committee and the Timber Frame Guild.  This program is a joint initative between the Federal and Provincial Governments under the Gas Tax Refund Inovation program and is open to all Provincial Municipalities outside of Greater Vancouver. A similar program was offered in 2010/11 and proved very successful and funded a number of community projects  including the new Johnston Bridge in Victoria to the tune of $16 million.  The Coordinating body, The Department of Municipalities Office in Victoria, subsequently issued the City a confirmation of receipt by number which idicates our proposal , although not guaranteed, is certainly in the running.

The Steering Committee is also moving ahead on several fronts including:

• Conditionally securing from the owners, Interfor, depending on its availability,the use of the old Field's Sawmill Site for the prefabrication of the Bridge in late summer of '13.
  

• Working together with the City and the TFG to develop the RFP for the design work of the Bridge.  This resulted in seven applications being received and the job being  awarded to the Associate Engineers Group of Vancouver. 
  

• The continuous solicitation of registered on line supporters, now in excess of two hundred fifty.  
• We will soon be forming a number of sub committees and earnestly seek your involvement.  If you have not already done so, please register on line as soon as possible.  Many Thanks!
  

Make sure you have some time free 4pm Monday 16 Apr 2012 to come to the Courtenay Council Meeting.

On the agenda will  be the report requested by Bill Anglin's motion. It's listed at 6th Street Bridge and Pedestrian/Cycling Bridge.

Show your support for the CV Bridge Project. Come to the meeting. Fill the room. The Councillors know why we are there.