Here is an update on the status of the blue bridge stair repairs upstream of the Brierly Rapids on the North Saskatchewan River. The County received $10,000 from the provincial government via the flood relief program to put the stairs back to the way they were. After the stairs were recovered from the river, the Rocky Canoe Club had Challand Welding make some minor repairs to the stairs at no cost. Then we had Parformance Powder Coating sandblast and re-paint the stairs at a cost of $4000. The club was then able to locate a pile driving company that could reach and re-drive 4 - 4 meter 8" screw piles. DFI did this last October at a cost of ~$3900. Repair costs this far have been billed directly to the county. Grant Chevallier and Tanner Barmentloo will line up a welder and picker truck this spring to cut and cap the piles and build a landing that the stairs can be mounted to. The stairs are currently laid down in a county yard. We may be able to get the county to supply the picker truck, also there should be some money left over to complete this.
Thanks to the Rocky Canoe Club for undertaking this project for Alberta's paddlers.
