Built around 1905, the Gold River Trail Bridge, formerly a railway, is one of the Municipality of Chester's most treasured landmarks. It's also a well-used connector between trail sections, so when it was closed in the Fall of 2021, it was felt by trail users near and far.

Several options were pursued and, ultimately, the decision to rehabilitate the historic bridge was made in early 2025. Work started the summer of the same year. This page will chronicle phases of rehabilitation and provide background reports for reference. If you would like to submit any digital historical documents to add to the significance of the bridge, please contact us!

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Rehabilitation Tender Awarded

    Awarded to Julmac Contracting Ltd on July 10, 2025.

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Design

    Submit design documents for safety, girder access, steel testing, abutment concrete mix and formwork, bearings, pre-engineered bridge, fabrication, etc.

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Plate girders

    Sandblast and prime girders, inspect and repair steel

  • Timeline item 4 - active

    Preparation - west

    Clearing, excavation, old materials removed, and concrete forms for abutment constructed

  • Timeline item 5 - active

    Preparation - east

    Clearing, excavation, old materials removed, and concrete forms for abutment constructed

  • Timeline item 6 - active

    Bearing replacement

    Replace west, center, and east pier bearings.

  • Timeline item 7 - incomplete

    Construction - west

    Concrete, install bearings, finish grade approach, install west side of pre-engineered bridge.

  • Timeline item 8 - incomplete

    Construction - east

    Concrete, install bearings, finish grade approach, install east side of pre-engineered bridge.

  • Timeline item 9 - active

    Masonry Restoration - west pier

    Raking, repointing and infill grout.

  • Timeline item 10 - incomplete

    Masonry Restoration - center pier

    Raking, repointing and infill grout.

  • Timeline item 11 - complete

    Masonry Restoration - east pier

    Raking, repointing and infill grout.

  • Timeline item 12 - incomplete

    Demobilization and clean up