The new boardwalk will be wider and more elevated to accommodate rising sea levels, and new railings will be added for safety.
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Construction of a new boardwalk along Port Moody’s Shoreline Trail is expected to begin by fall.
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The project will replace one of the most popular pieces of recreational infrastructure in the city, which is used by more than 230,000 visitors a year.
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Some councillors remarked it will be sad to lose the charm of the old boardwalk, but the replacement was needed.
“We are going to have some residents that are going to be not pleased to see our quaint rickety old wooden boardwalks and bridges go, but I think we’re doing this for the better,” said Coun. Diana Dilworth.
The current boardwalk was constructed by city crews in the late 1980s, connecting a trail system from Rock Point Park to Old Orchard Park over the tidal mudflats.
A structural assessment, conducted in 2021, found there were immediate and near-term issues that needed to be addressed within a few years.
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The wooden structures are frequently under water during king tides and storm surges.
Following a high tide in December, 2022 a section of the boardwalk had to be closed for safety reasons. The new boardwalk will be wider and more elevated to accommodate rising sea levels, and new railings will be added for safety.
There are still discussions related to whether the new boardwalk will be extended over some of the existing gravel paths. City staff have previously said the city wants to extend the current 145-metre boardwalk to up to 440 metres, but much would depend on funding sources.
The current budget for the project is $3.15 million, however, the city may seek federal funding.
The mudflats are a critical ecosystem area for fish, birds, and other wildlife, and minimizing disruption to the habitats is a key factor for the project, according to staff.
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Construction of the boardwalk will use a “top down” method of installation using specialized screw piles, so heavy machinery won’t need be needed
The lightweight foundation is expected to last over 75 years.
Work on the new project will be carried out in collaboration with the “In the Presence of Ancestors” project, which plans to raise five Indigenous house posts along Port Moody’s shoreline.
A new viewing platform will be installed adjacent to the fifth house post, replacing the existing viewing platform located at the end of the trail from the Trasolini Field access point.
Some of the steep ramps and stairs on the bridge crossings will be removed to increase accessibility.
Patrick Penner is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with the Tri-Cities Dispatch. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
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