The CVRD are presently hiring an engineer to help with the Kinsol project.Hopefully the project can move forward at a greater pace this year and the sound of the saw will break the sound of silence in the Koksilah.
The KINSOL.CA fundraising continues so call Diane or Kim to pledge your support.

The Kinsol trestle will be restored once the balance of funds required to do so, are raised. 4.1 million dollars are already on hand. Two million additional dollars are needed to see the construction commenced and the future maintainance fund secured.
The Cowichan Foundation is receiving funds on behalf of the Kinsol restoration campaign. Donations may be made at KINSOL.CA from anywhere .
The Trans Canada Trail will soon be completed on Vancouver Island with a feature of unparalleled significance. The Kinsol Trestle will soon support traffic including cyclists,equestrians ,and hikers.

Thursday was a special day in the Cowichan Valley. A small gathering of people met at the Kinsol Trestle for a major funding announcement of the Island Coastal Economic Trust,under the direction of the Honourable Ida Chong. 1.7 Million dollars was brought to the trestle rehabilitation/trail initiative after a proposal was maximized from a two year ask.This brings the total funds raised thus far to 4.1 million dollars -the balance of funding will be raised through the community by The Cowichan Foundation.
Mayor Phill Kent and Jack Peake were on hand along with Gordon Macdonald of Commonwealth Restoration -the firm that recently completed a feasibility study of the trestle. Ida Chong spoke to the beauty of the trestle and that pictures fall short of the mark. The true experience is in seeing it up close-the structures' massive timbers and monolithic presence can now be viewed properly as a vegetation management program has commenced and sightlines are greatly improved.
Donations of in kind materials and support are being sought so that the trestle program can move ahead. CVRD Parks manager Brian Farquhar was pleased with the announcement as was John Luton -executive director of the Capital Bike and Walk Society. NDP Juan de Fuca mla John Horgan spoke to the need to preserve the historic icon of BC ,Canada,and the Commonwealth. At this point, there is no turning back . The bridge may be opened for 2010.

This week ,Premier Gordon Campbell announced 31 million dollars will be earmarked for a Bike BC program to increase awareness and infrastructure improvements for alternate transport in the Province. These funds ,will aid the progress of significant programs already benefitting from Kevin Falcon's MOT initiative under Act Now and LocalMotion .
British Columbians will see bicycle paths repaired and completed ,while cycling lanes on roadways will be created and enhanced to provide safe corridors in which vehicular traffic and cyclists will coexist .
John Luton ,Executive Director of the Capital Bike and Walk Society, a Victoria based organization which supports alternative methods of transportation,has made some top recommendations for funding channels. Among them were the completion of the E and N trail linking Victoria to the TransCanada trail. Federal MP Gary Lunn commited 15 million to the trail last year. The announcement of further specific funding will allow for greater challenges of the trail design to be met.
The Kinsol Trestle is also listed as being of principal importance -according to Luton,and in need of a push to meet the 2010 completion deadline at which time, the E and N trail will initiate in Victoria, and will end in Lake Cowichan thus completing a spectacular commuter and tourism link for cyclists. The Kinsol has been in need of repair for many years,and is being recognized as the "Gateway" of the Trans Canada Trail on Vancouver Island . A comprehensive study of the historic wooden structure has been completed and recognizes the trestle as being in very good condition to allow for a heritage restoration.
It is with great hope that Kevin Falcon will once again cut the ribbon on opening day and lead the pack across the trestle on his mountain bike. The Kinsol Trestle represents an interesting bridge project similar to the Kicking Horse (Park) and Port Mann -but reflects the real future of alternative transportation in the Province.
The Bike BC funding will certainly help cash strapped municipalities to complete additional programs that will help make cycling safe and efficient

For the past 20 odd years The Kinsol Trestle at M51 has stood as a symbol of pride and ingenuity and a token of when things were built to last .The men who toiled for years at The Koksilah River ,were intelligent and diligent in their approach to put the railway through. They were artisans who saw the need for clear design and quality to ensure the success of the rail line they were building.
ART is actually an acronym in this case-for all that represents the case of the Kinsol to date-and the importance of it's necessary conservation.
A is for the Awareness of the bridge -it's semi remote location ,history,and story to present all of which need an added boost. Advertising to the site will ensure it's success.
R-is for recreational values which are increasing continually -the need for which is the concern of every municipal planning dept.The TCT will be a free of charge benefit drawing all from far and wide to seek out it's points of interest. The Kinsol is the largest original bridge for this use in Canada.
T -of course represents tourism ;something an advertised Kinsol and the trail -with 7 other original bridges-will attract in masses.We have the original historic path that the Kettle Valley was before the fires......They now have replacement bridges to celebrate a historic lline with an amazing story ,but without the keystone trestles of origin.
Since 1979 ,many people have in diffferent ways sought to bring deserved attention to the Kinsol and have it restored or repaired for public use.Jack Fleetwood,Richard Pope,Ralph Morris, Tom Anderson and the TCT organization, Kathryn Gagnon,Tom Paterson,Macdonald and Lawrence-and many more have spent hours working for the cause of retaining this unique historic structure n the Cowichan Valley-and of course the MOT and CVRD.
A trail commenced in the nineties, and dubbed the Trans Canada Trail was to cross Canada and here we are years later with that finish goal in our sites. The sole components which have for so long-been obstacles are now being developed around us to fashion this wonderful recreational facility. What an asset to the community the 2010 trail portion of the Cowichan Regional Trail will be with The Kinsol majestically calling all to the gateway with a spectacular river crossing.

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This stunning aerial image -courtesy of Don Fern -clearly shows the impressive span over the Koksilah river. If you look carefully you can see people on the trail-wishing they could cross. Much of this monolithic structure's deck is hidden among the trees while only 15% needs replacement from the fire of 1993 . There is a strong movement afoot to revive the Kinsol to its former glory for 2010.
The Kinsol trestle, will draw people in the same way that Chemanus murals and covered bridges in eastern Canada do.The railway is of national significance. Gordon Lightfoot recorded The Canadian Railroad Trilogy and sang of our heritage and of the significant crossing of our nation with steel. This was completed on Vancouver Island not 5 miles from the Kinsol at Cliffside. The Kinsol trestle will become the cornerstone of the Cowichan Valley Recreational Trail

The CVRD has broken tradition and voted to move ahead with the restoration feasability study of the 86 year old trestle -citing its unique design and heritage value. Eight years have gone by while groups debated for or against a complete restoration of the now famous Kinsol Trestle.
Director Joe Allan raised the issue of futility of fighting progress in that the Board had voted against the restoration for so long that he wished for nothing other then progress in this important issue. Chair Jack Peake, waved a copy of BCAA Westworld Magazine's fall issue before the Board to show the feature story of The Kinsol. 'This things more popular on a world level now then we could have dreamed ",he stated. Victoria recently got a 11 million dollar boost for their trail programme -and the CVRD Board voted last night for a further application for funding of The Kinsol Trestle. What a history of the working past,we will celebrate, in BC with The Kinsol, as the covered bridges of Maritime Canada are recognized internationally.
Local magazines and television crews are busily reporting on the future crossing of the Trans Canada Trail. This webpage has received 325 000 visits in 27 months. The Kinsol is said to be the largest(highest) remaining timberframe bridge in the British Commonwealth at 145 ft.!
With world level restorers waiting to commence in opening up the last break in the trail, the CVRD Board has finally voted and move ahead with promoting history. This month 3 reknowned firms submitted proposals to repair the crossing at the Koksilah river. Commonwealth Restorations Ltd., a consortium of firms including Macdonald and Lawrence timberframing (,which restored Windsor Castle in the U.K. after the fires.) has been awarded the contract. A restored Kinsol Trestle will draw countless numbers to the Trans Canada trail in a celebration of recreation and our local heritage.

The bridge deck surface is in great condition either side of the centre fire damage. The CVRD will enjoy the added tourism dollars flowing into the area once the bridge is reopened. The originall survey of the bridge is from 1910- a centennial of this fact will share the 2010 celebration of our Cowichan Valley Regional Trail. Finally the trail will open for all to enjoy.
Photo-Don Fern

“The Kinsol is…an outstanding example of a time when there was no project too grand, or scheme too bold for us to achieve with hard work and innovation.
“There is more fundraising potential for an effort to conserve an important architectural treasure than there is for a hole in the ground where one once stood.
“With a length of 614 feet, it is the longest trestle in the British Commonwealth.
“Being 145 feet high (taller than a 14 storey building) it is possibly the highest wooden trestle in the world.” –Macdonald & Lawrence, timber framing specialists.

CVRD director Gerry Giles said it best: “We owe it to ourselves and to history to know that we have made the right decision.”
Her comment, and her reminder to the board that she and several other directors were elected after some of the decisions affecting the fate of the Kinsol Trestle were made, was likely the tipping point at the June 7th special meeting called by chairman Jack Peake to hear a proposal by Macdonald & Lawrence Timber Framing Ltd. to restore the 86-year-old structure.
For more than two hours, before a packed audience which included MLA John Horgan, the board listened to proposals from M&D and Calgary engineering consultant James Klett, who favours demolition of the historic structure and replacement by a look-alike design over the Koksilah River at Mile 51.1. After asking questions, some of which were clarified by a representative of the Ministry of Transportation, Victoria engineering consultant Ian McColl and Calgary structural engineer Reid Costley, the board voted 11-1 to provide $160,000 for a “preliminary planning and peer review”.
Should the Kinsol pass this litmus test, the CVRD will decide whether to commit to the restoration plan that the internationally acclaimed heritage specialists have pegged at less than $4 million—$2 million less than the CVRD’s projected cost of demolition and construction of a “modified” bridge.
It should be noted that the MOT, whose concern for its legal liability because of the trestle’s semi-derelict state has driven the agenda for demolition, have consented to the $1.5 million budgeted for deconstruction and site clean-up being applied to restoration. The provincial government is also willing for the $1.6 million recently granted for “reconstruction” to be applied to restoration. On the condition that the CVRD accepts legal responsibility for the trestle. Without this money, the regional district cannot afford either plan.
Based upon M&L’s quote, the CVRD will have to come up with a further $900,000. As intimidating as this sounds, the case has been made by trestle proponents that they will have greater chance of raising additional money for a restoration than for a rebuild-and will have plenty of time to do so...
Here are the highlights of Macdonald &Lawrence’s proposal:
--That this landmark can be saved, and for less than the projected cost of replacement.
--The Kinsol is an important part of our local and provincial heritage. It remains an outstanding example of a time when there was no project too grand, or scheme too bold for us to achieve with hard work and innovation.
--[Our] proposed methodology meets or exceeds all current standards for the care of built heritage as defined by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, of which Canada is a signatory nation.
--[Our] strategy avoids the need to dismantle the bridge altogether. This is an advantage because the existing bridge shape and geometry are retained [at a saving of] considerable cost and time.
--By working from both sides of the valley towards centre, workers will be able to safely access the bridge from the rail deck level at all times, using this as the principal means to bring new material in, and take perished material out. This strategy significantly reduces the risk to workers.
--[Our] proposal is based upon an anticipated service life of 40 years. With annual maintenance and modest expense, the Kinsol can be preserved in perpetuity.
--The entire work area is located within a sensitive riparian zone where both the marine and land ecologies must be protected from falling debris or damage from machinery. Working from the side to the centre enables a methodical approach whereby construction debris can be controlled, and the majority of work can be performed from the deck level rather than the valley floor.
--The vast majority of funds would be invested locally for the benefit of local business and approximately 20 new local jobs would be created.
--There is more fundraising potential for an effort to conserve an important architectural treasure than there is for a hole in the ground where one once stood.

Because the Kinsol Trestle no longer has to bear the weight of loaded logging trains, M&L propose to replace its first-growth fir timbers that are beyond saving with larger dimension western red cedar. This will provide longevity and meet required structural standards.
Thursday evening, the CVRD agreed to fund this final study. Upon confirmation that restoration of the Kinsol Trestle is financially viable, the board will vote whether to commit to this program. M&L have projected six months for a detailed construction strategy, three months for peer review and 18 months to complete the restoration.
--T.W. Paterson

'Our wilderness to the rest of the world is the wonder...'