The Capital Regional District (CRD) has completed the restoration of the Todd Creek Trestle along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail near Sooke Potholes Regional Park.
According to a press release issued from the CRD, the restoration work will add an additional 35-50 years to the life span of the structure, which is over 100 years old.
The trestle formerly belonged to the rail line that ran from Victoria to Leechtown and is now considered by the CRD to be “a valuable asset” to the network of the regional trails system.
The CRD says that the cost of the restoration project is estimated to total $1,700,000. The decision was made by CRD staff to restore the trestle after assessing repair options with engineers back in 2019. Work began on the 4-story wooden trestle back in October of 2019 and was delayed due to COVID-19, inclement weather and “unforeseen structural challenges.”
One year later, however, the trestle is now open for public use.
The Todd Creek Trestle is part of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail – a multi-use trail that spans 55 kilometres between Victoria and Sooke.
According to the CRD, the wooden trestle was built in 1917 as part of the Canadian National Railway. It was decommissioned as a rail line in 1984.
The CRD describes the trestle as offering “expansive forest and river views” as well as being “an attraction along the trail.”
For more information on the project and images of the process, visit the Capital Regional District’s website.
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Graham Cox
