As reported occasionally over the past year or so, one of Snow Lake's major tourist draws has been periodically out of commission for at least 24 months. However, as of late August that situation has been rectified.
The cables on one of the two suspension bridges that span Wekusko Falls had failed and as a result both bridges were closed. In an interview back in July of 2008, Conservation Manitoba's then Regional Parks Manager, Rod MacCharles, advised that it would take a bit of time and some money to effect repairs and modifications to both.
At that point, MacCharles stated that Conservation had received an engineering report on both structures and that they were reviewing it. He noted that the department planned to proceed with tendering at that time, but he was unsure of the amount of money that would be available for the project in 2008, and that there might not be enough to do the required work on both bridges.
Explaining what their engineer required them to do safety-wise in order to open the bridges, MacCharles said that even though the repair work was not highly technical, it did involve rock and steel cable and would very likely have to be done by a mining outfit.
He added that the department was well aware of what a draw the bridges were for the community and that they work hard to get them repaired. The Conservation department called for tenders in the fall of 2008, with the idea of having a contractor in place and work completed prior to opening the park in spring of 2009; however, that wasn't to be.
Nevertheless, on July 9 of this year, MacCharles advised by email that the contract to replace the suspension bridges over the falls was in place and had been approved. "I met with Millennium (Mechanical) on June 29 and they will start during the third week of July," MacCharles said on that date. "The cable has been ordered and will arrive by July 15. The bridges should be better than new by end of August."
They didn't start in July, but true to his word, Millennium Mechanical was hard at it out at Wekusko Falls by mid-August and were all done by the end of the month. I was out to check on their progress during their initial week of work and one of their workers, Dan deMontigny, was jack-hammering holes into the rock, where the new cables would be anchored. He stopped to explain a little about the new system.
deMontigny advised that the bridges would now sit on four cables - two on each side of the bridge. He said that they would be on swivels of sorts and be anchored to the rock with rebar, metal plates, and cement. When asked what the biggest difference was between the way the bridges are anchored this time as compared to when the Army Engineers 21st Field Squadron did it back in the sixties, deMontigny stated, "Well, we'll be using new cable this time!" The 21st Field Squadron worked with materials they had been provided with back then.
Spanning a gorge carved by the Grass River in the Precambrian shield between Tramping and Wekusko Lakes, the original bridges were fabricated in the mid-sixties by the Canadian Engineers 21st Field Squadron (and others) based in Flin Flon. MacCharles said that two years ago, a cable on one bridge failed; it basically just rusted apart. When they were installed, the cables (old hoisting cable) were impregnated with grease and buried, but time and nature eventually won out. The bridge was temporarily repaired for Snow Lake's 60th in 2007, but before they were permanently opened to the public, something more substantial was required.
That work done, MacCharles advised that Conservation Manitoba's engineer was to have arrived on Thursday Sept. 3 to inspect and approve the bridge, and that once that was done, they would be reopened.
On the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 7, I took a trip out to the falls and walked both bridges. I have to say that I have never had any qualms about walking over these structures (even when they were closed for repairs), but I do know people who have always stepped on and off of them gingerly and with more than a little trepidation. I have to say there is no need for that anymore ... these things are here for the long haul! Also, a little bit of an added bonus is the fact that the smaller of the two bridges can now be rightfully referred to as a swinging bridge. Anchored to the new swivels, it actually swings. Hats off to Conservation Manitoba for taking a great idea (from the Canadian Engineers 21st Field Squadron) and improving upon it for the enjoyment of all who visit this exquisite little park along the highway into Snow Lake.
