Preservation opportunity should not be lost - Commentary Innisfail Province

Media News

ACR / CPR Mintlaw Bridge

Ground Transportation
Heritage Preservation

Commentary
Preservation opportunity should not be lost
reprinted from Innisfail Province June 23, 2015

Letter to the Editor
Creating trail link to rail bridge an
opportunity not to be lost
reprinted from Red Deer Advocate June 16, 2015

ACR Mintlaw bridge - Pettypiece photo There are times in our history when the stars line up to create an unusual opportunity to do something special that future generations will cherish. This is one of those times.

A few years ago, Red Deer County was gifted for $1 the relatively unknown, historic 644-metre-long Alberta Central Railway steel trestle across the Red Deer River just a few kilometres southwest of Red Deer along with the right of way from Hwy 2A to Benalto.

Since then, the County has thankfully invested several hundred thousand dollars to maintain its integrity as a significant historic resource. After all, it's the longest abandoned railway bridge of its type, not only in Central Alberta, but in Western Canada. Only two other bridges of its type are still actively used by the two major railways, both in Alberta.

ACR Mintlaw trestle - Pettypiece photo Furthermore, this bridge (built by a local railway company with dreams of interprovincial line through Red Deer) represents the opening up of the land west of the Red Deer River for settlement, development and reaching world markets. It symbolizes the entrepreneurship and work ethic of early settlers to the region.

The dilemma is what practical use is there for this important historical structure that justifies the cost of maintaining it as a county-owned historic icon?

There really is only one possible use -- as part of a regional or national trail network that exposes this important structure to the public and creates an active living resource that would attract people to this region.

This is where the rare opportunity comes in.

The Trans Canada Trail Foundation is looking to finalize its route in Central Alberta and is prepared to fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of renovating the structure for pedestrian and bicycle use. In addition, there is likely to be significant funding available for special projects to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Canada in 2017, although one significant funding opportunity has already been lost, the Canada 150 grant.

Other significant funding is likely to be available from the province for active living, heritage, rural development and tourism projects.

And let's not rule out significant corporate and individual funding for such a high-profile project.

But the window of opportunity is brief. Trans Canada Trail Foundation funds, allocated in Alberta by Alberta TrailNet, will go to projects most likely to be completed, or at least started, by 2017. However, the decisions on those allocations are likely to be made by the end of this year, if not sooner.

Let's not kid ourselves -- repurposing this bridge and the linear park approaches will be a multi-million dollar project and there are some challenges to overcome in order to proceed, including addressing the legitimate concerns of adjoining landowners. But it is unlikely that this amount of non-local funding will be available again in the foreseeable future, keeping in mind that Albertans have been among the largest contributors to the Trans Canada Trail.

If Red Deer County and the City of Red Deer (who had both lobbied in the late 1990s to bring the TCT to Central Alberta) can work together to commit to this project (one of four possible routings between Red Deer and Springbrook), this landmark could become a major Canadian tourist attractor (adding further opportunities for both county and city residents).

With the support of the Towns of Sylvan Lake, Penhold and Innisfail, this regional treasure and its linkages to those communities will be a lasting legacy to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Let's not lose this opportunity. If you think this project is worthwhile, please let your municipal councillors know.

- Paul Pettypiece, President, Central Alberta Regional Trails Society (CARTS), Springbrook

(Red Deer Advocate Photo by Paul Pettypiece (upper) - The historic 644-metre-long Central Alberta Railway steel trestle across the Red Deer River could be the centrepiece of a new trail.
Innisfail Province Photo by Paul Pettypiece (lower)- The Mintlaw steel trestle is the longest abandoned railway bridge of its type, not only in Central Alberta, but in Western Canada.)

Letter to the Editor
Mintlaw Bridge is worth preserving
reprinted from Innisfail Province July 7, 2015

I read Paul Pettypiece's commentary in the June 23 Innisfail Province. I wanted to write a letter to support Forth Junction's efforts to preserve and give new life to the Mintlaw Bridge.

I think restoring the Mintlaw trestle and converting it to a trail would be really worthwhile.

The Mintlaw viaduct is a historical structure that has been abandoned for the last 32 years. It is a spectacular structure with an interesting story. Ever since I was two years old I've really liked trains and I think the Mintlaw trestle would be a valuable historical site for everyone to see. Actually, I know many people who really like trains and would be excited to cross the trestle when it's restored.

Last summer my family and I went to Prince Edward Island where they have a historical trail along the Canadian National rail line, which was abandoned in 1989. It is called the Confederation trail system.

This is PEI's contribution to the Trans Canada Trail. We spent seven days biking along and exploring the trail.
I especially enjoyed the Elmira railway museum at the eastern point of the trail and the Montreal Locomotive Works engine number CN 1762 in Kensington. The trail had many signs to describe the historical features along the way.

I think restoring the Mintlaw viaduct and adding it to Alberta's contribution to the Trans Canada Trail would be really cool for more than just rail fans.

I think bicyclists, hikers and people interested in history would enjoy it too. Starting or ending a marathon over it would be pretty neat.

Daniel B. Craig
Red Deer County

Radio News Broadcast
CARTS Eyeing Mintlaw Bridge for Trans Canada Trail Leg Between Red Deer & Springbrook
reprinted from Sunny 94 FM website July 7, 2015

Central Alberta Regional Trails Society is hoping both the County and City of Red Deer will partner with them to make a leg of the Trans Canada Trail System a reality between Red Deer and Springbrook.

The Society has studied routes for the trail, with 4 options identified. CARTS President Paul Pettypiece says they are attracted to the Mintlaw Bridge option, which brings with it great potential for tourism "the Mintlaw Bridge is a 21 hundred foot long steel trestle that crosses the Red Deer River just southwest of Red Deer. It's the longest abandoned railway bridge in western Canada; it would make a perfect trail; in fact it's probably the only real useful purpose for the structure, but it's the longest of the 4 options and therefore the costliest".

Pettypiece says the bridge itself needs a fair amount of work to make it safe for pedestrian and cyclist use. He anticipates it would cost several million dollars to complete the Red Deer to Springbrook leg of the trail, with Trans Canada Trail and Alberta TrailNet prepared to fund 50% of the project.