Red Deer County is still collecting feedback from the public to determine what to do with a 100-year-old bridge purchased by council in 2010.Purchased for $1, the county has since invested $205,000 for rehabilitation work on the Mintlaw Bridge, built originally for the Alberta Central Railway that later became part of the Canadian Pacific Railway.A public open house was held Jan. 25 to garner feedback on the county's draft bridge preservation and public access strategy. About 70 people turned out for the event, said Jo-Ann Symington, community services manager at Red Deer County."There was a mix of positive and negative feedback," said Symington, adding that there were concerns from adjacent landowners.The draft presented to the public included feedback from 55 landowners in the area. Of those who responded, 34 per cent didn't want the public to have access to the bridge, citing concerns over loss of privacy, trespassing, costs to the county, impacts on wildlife and safety of users.Of the remaining neighbours, opinions were divided with 37 per cent wanting to see public access become available and 29 per cent uncertain.Other consultations with various groups such as the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society and the Forth Junction Heritage Society were all in favour of public access by foot or bicycle and suggested signage, fencing and garbage receptacles as possible solutions to some of the neighbours' concerns.Symington said based on feedback from these consultations as well as other workshops, the long-term objective is to allow public access to, on and across the bridge.She added, however, that public access to the bridge wouldn't become available any time in the "foreseeable future," saying final approval has yet to be obtained from council and costs to maintain the bridge would have to be shared in some sort of partnership.The estimated cost for annual operating and maintenance sits at $40,000 but drives up to $250,000 a year if the public is allowed access. As well, a one-time $2.7-million capital cost outlay would be needed for a parking lot and bridge connection on the west side. Two other possibilities, allowing access to a viewing point or allowing access on the bridge only from the east, were also presented in the draft.Because of the costs, no further development or public access will occur on the site until a partnership is in place, said Symington, something that would be looked into more seriously once the draft is approved.Meanwhile, the public is asked to continue offering its feedback until Feb. 15 via an online or printable survey found at http://rdcounty.ca/.
