Work is underway to replace the Hi-Lo Bridge at the Frink Centre on Thrasher Road.
Quinte Conservation’s Lindsay Nash says the original Hi-Lo Bridge was built in 1993, spanning the silver maple swamp.
It was removed in 2018 due to unrepairable damage.
“It was actually pushed over by ice jamming which obviously made it unsafe, unsafe for the public. So it was taken down and then over the last few years we’ve been fundraising to try to rebuild it.”
The cost to replace the bridge is about $180,000.
Quinte Conservation has raised $50,000 through campaigns like Adopt an Acre and its 50th anniversary celebrations.
A significant portion of the funding also came from the Parrott Foundation.
Nash says the new bridge is being constructed slightly southwest of the original structure and will be a little shorter.
“And it’s gonna be a little farther away from the river so then hopefully it won’t – the influence of ice jamming isn’t going to be as significant because it’s going to be a little bit farther back.”
Work is expected to take about four or five weeks, weather permitting.
Nash says they would love to see the work completed for maple syrup season as the Frink Centre annually hosts outdoor education classes during that time.
“It’s really significant that we get that back in there because it connects all different kinds of ecotypes and landforms and habitats that the Frink has to offer. And then people can explore all of those different areas within a shorter time frame because then they don’t have to loop back around.”
A dedication and grand opening celebration will likely be held later this year.
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