News and Events

Annual General Meeting Held

Our AGM was held on March 19, 2008. If you would like to receive the minutes, please go to "About Us", then to "Contact Us" and fill out the feedback form.

The minutes can be sent out by email (preferred) or by regular mail.

Trail is now open!

It has been over 4 years in the making, but we are very happy to report that the trestles have all been completed, and it is now possible to travel over the 12km route between Myra and Ruth trailheads.

At the time of this writing, there is still, of course, snow on the route, but that will soon be gone.

The trail will be re-surfaced once the frost has left the ground, and other finishing touches will be underway, so it will be necessary to watch out for these activities.

Enjoy!

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society will be held on

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Okanagan College, 1000 KLO Road
Room H115 (Health Building)
At 7 pm

There will be light refreshments and beverages:

Agenda

1. Adoption of Agenda
2. Minutes of the Annual General
Meeting,April 10, 2007
3. President’s Report
4. Financial Report
5. Grand Reopening Plans
6. Early KVR local history
7. Election of Directors
8. Other Business
9. Adjournment

Members are welcome to suggest items for inclusion in the meeting, under “Other Business”.

2007 Progress Report #3

The reconstruction of the trestles is nearing its end. The replacement of all the damaged trestles is now substantially complete except for trestle 6 and trestle 7.

Work is progressing well on these final two. At trestle 7, the contractor has reached bent 13 of 21and should have it finished in the first week of December. This is the trestle with the S-curve.
Trestle 6 is the big steel one and the job there is to replace the burned super structure -- ties, boardwalk and railings. It is more than half completed and should be finished by the end of November.

The final task will be to erect the finished railings on those trestles which to date have temporary railings.

So we expect all that to be done by December 7.

In the spring, as soon as weather permits, the whole trail in Myra Canyon will be resurfaced with compacted gravel. We will be erecting substantial interpretive signage at that time as well, so that the whole project will be complete sometime in June, 2008.

The photo shown is the completed Trestle 4, the longest and highest of the wooden trestles.

2007 Progress Report #2

On the Little White Road side of the canyon, Trestle 4 is nearing completion and will be substantially complete by the end of August. This will allow construction access to trestles 5 and 6 and the contract has been let for those with a start date of September 1 and a completion date of November 30.

Trestle 5 is the smallest of the wooden ones and its construction is fairly straightforward. Trestle 6 is the larger of the two steel trestles. It needs only to have the wooden superstructure replaced, i.e., the timber ties and the decking and railings
.
When trestle 4 is complete, public access will be permitted to trestle 3.

On the Myra station side of the canyon, work is proceeding well on trestle 8 and trestle 7. The target for their completion is also November 30. At this end, public access is limited to the first tunnel. ie. west of Trestle 12.

Our objective is to have the whole of the trail open in the spring of 2008. There will still be some restoration work on the trail surface and some amenities to be replaced but this should not interfere with public use.

We are planning a grand opening and a community celebration in the spring, probably in June 2008. More on this later

Photo is of Trestle 4 taken July 27, 2007.

2007 Progress Report #1

Three more trestles have now been completed – Trestles 11, 10 and 9 are now complete. The contract has been let for trestles 8 and 7, to be completed late this year
Public access is permitted from the Myra parking lot trailhead through to the first tunnel. Although the next three trestles are rebuilt, the movement of machinery over them and the assembling of materials in the vicinity, makes it unsafe for the public.

On the Ruth side of the canyon (Little White Road), trestle 4 is still under construction and completion is scheduled for September. When it is complete, we can rebuild the small trestle 5 and repair the large steel trestle 6.
Public access on this side is still from the trailhead at Ruth station to just beyond trestle 2 where the trestle 4 contractor has his gate.

We are hopeful that all the trestles will be complete by the end of 2007. It will then be necessary to resurface the trail and to replace amenities lost in the fire.

So the target is to have the trail completely open sometime in the spring or early summer of 2008.

In the photo on the right, pictured during an inspection in March 2007 of Trestle 10 are members and directors of the Society. From left to right: Ian Hooson, Lorne Fairgrieve, Lisa Fairgrieve, Charley Adam, Bob Buchecker, Ken Campbell. (File T10_20070314_1122) Not shown in the picture, but behind the camera was Denney Thompson.

Annual General Meeting Held

Our AGM was held on April 10, 2007. If you would like to receive the minutes, please go to "About Us", then to "Contact Us" and fill out the feedback form.

The minutes can be sent out by email (preferred)or by regular mail.

2007 Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society will be held on:

Tuesday April 10, 2007
Okanagan College, 1000 KLO Road
Room H115 (Health Building)
at 7 pm

AGENDA

1. Adoption of Agenda
2. Minutes of 2006 AGM
3. President's Report
4. Financial Report
5. Special Resolution (see below)
6. Trestle Replacement Report
7. Archaeological Dig Report
8. Election of Directors
9. Other business
10.Adjournment

Members are welcome to suggest items for inclusion in the meeting under "Other Business".

New members are always welcome, and there are also vacant positions on the board of directors.

A Special Resolution is proposed to revise the objectives of the Society.

The current objectives of the Society are:

1. To upgrade trestles in the Myra Canyon to improve safe public passage.

2. To improve and maintain the former Kettle Valley Railway right-of-way between Little White Forest Service Road, at approximately Mile 90.5, and Myra Forest Service Road, at approximately Mile 84.5,including, but not limited to, tunnels, access, parking facilities and trailways.

We would like to propose the following addition to our objectives.

3. To preserve, protect, interpret, and promote the heritage, historical, and environmental features of Myra Canyon

2006 Progress Report #5

The completion dates for 2006 construction projects have been extended. The contractors will be working through the winter and intend to have all three trestles (4, 10 and 11) completed by the end of March.

The early and severe winter conditions at the site have made working conditions difficult.
The rock mitigation work is now complete for the whole site except for some cleanup between trestles 10 and 11.

Assuming the completion of the current contracts by the new target date, we will be calling for tenders as soon as spring weather permits, to construct trestles 5, 7 and 8 and repair the two steel trestles, 6 and 9.

2006 Progress Report #4

Construction has begun on trestle #4 and trestle #11. Contracts were let to Bilco Construction of Winfield for #4 and to Westbridge Construction of North Vancouver for trestles #11 and #10. Trestles #4 and #11 are the longest of the wooden trestles and #4 is also the deepest.

The plan is to have all three finished by early December.

If all goes well at #4,it may be possible to also build #5, the smallest of all the trestles.
That will bring us to the steel trestles #6 on the west side and #9 on the east side. These were both damaged by the fire and will have their wooden ties, decking and railings replaced early in 2007. The remaining two trestles, #7 and #8 will be rebuilt in 2007 for completion of the project.

In the meantime, rockfall mitigation work is continuing ahead of the trestle construction. It is hoped that this can be completed in 2006.

Public access is currently open from the Myra parking lot to trestle #12 and from the Ruth parking lot (Little White Road) to trestle #2. Note : there is a small parking lot at the intersection of Little White Road and the railbed and a further one 1 1/2 km to the east along the railbed.

The Myra Forest Service Road is now being maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and is in good gravel road condition. Drivers are urged to drive carefully and with respect for other vehicles.

Little White Forest Service Road is not being maintained. It is driveable for ordinary vehicles but is rough in places and drivers are urged to drive slowly and to use caution.

2006 Progress Report #3

Six of the destroyed wooden trestles have now been rebuilt -- numbers 18, 15, 14, 13 on the Myra side of the canyon and 2 and 3 on the Little White Road side.

Trestles 17, 16 and 12 and trestle 1 survived the fire, so public access is available now as far as trestle 12 on the Myra side and as far as trestle 3 on the Little White side.

This season we will be rebuilding trestles 11 and 10 from Myra and trestles 4 and 5 from Little White.

People accessing the trail do so at their own risk and should be aware that construction equipment will also be using it at times. Temporary short term closures may be necessary for public safety.

The Myra Forest Service Road is now being maintained by the Ministry of Transportation. No arrangements have yet been made for regular maintenance of Little White Road and it is rough in places but passable.

Change of Address

Our address has changed:

OLD ADDRESS:

Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society
PBC Box 611
Kelowna BC
V1Y 7P2

NEW ADDRESS:

Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society
Capri PO Box 22095
Kelowna BC
V1Y 9N9

2006 Progress Report #2

Trestle 3 was completed in March 2006, providing access to the largest wooden trestle, #6, scheduled for replacement during the 2006 construction season.

Tenders will be called soon for replacement this year of Trestles 4 and 5, from the west, and Trestles 11 and 10, from the east.

Annual General Meeting Held

Our AGM was held on March 15, 2006. If you would like to receive the minutes, please go to "About Us", then to "Contact Us" and fill out the feedback form.

The minutes can be sent out by email (preferred)or by regular mail.

Annual General Meeting

Our AGM will be held on:

Wednesday March 15, 2006
Okanagan College, 1000 KLO Road
Room B112 (Business Building)
At 7pm

There will be light refreshments and beverages:


AGENDA

1. Adoption of Agenda
2. Minutes of the AGM March 15, 2005
3. President's Report
4. Financial Report
5. Trestle Replacement Report
6. Election of Directors
7. Other Business
8. Adjournment

Members are welcome to suggest items for inclusion in the meeting, under "Other Business".

2006 Progress Report #1

February 22, 2006

Since the Christmas break, trestle #2 has now been completed and the construction crew has moved on to trestle #3. Considerable rock work was necessary at trestle #3 and heavy equipment was brought in over trestle #1 and the rebuilt Trestle #2.

The foundations have been prepared and the first bents are being erected this week.
The engineering designs for trestle #4 are almost finished and tenders will be called for its reconstruction in early April and building will start as soon as trestle #3 is finished. Trestle #4 was the longest and highest of the wooden trestles and will take the longest to rebuild. It should be complete around December 1.

In the meantime, the design for trestle #5, the smallest one of all is being done now in anticipation of being able to complete it this season after trestle #4 is finished.

On the Myra side of the canyon, tenders will soon be called for reconstruction of trestles #11 and #10. The timbers for these two have been milled and are being framed and treated at the present time.

There will a great amount of rock work to be done this season and the rock people will work ahead of the trestle construction.

The trail is open at the Myra (east) end up to and through the east tunnel. On the Ruth side (Little White Road), it is open to a point close to trestle #2. The intention is to keep the trail open to the public to these points through the 2006 season so long as it can be safe for the public and does not interfere with the construction activities.

2005 Progress Report #3

On the Myra side, trestles #18, 15, 14, 13 have now been rebuilt. With #17, 16 and 12, which survived the fire, there is now public access as far as the east tunnel. Work will begin in the spring on trestle #11.

On the Ruth side, trestle #2 will be completed and trestle #3 will be built during the winter.

Work will begin on trestle #4 in the spring.

Public access is still restricted to a short distance beyond trestle #1.

Our plan calls for completion of all the trestles and re-opening of the trail in late summer of 2007.

2006 Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Calendar

2006 Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Calendar now for sale!

The 2006 Calendar is now exclusively available at London Drugs in Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton.The retail price is $12.95.

If you are interested in this unique product, we suggest you visit your local London Drugs store, as quantities are limited.

Proceeds from sales will go towards trail enhancement efforts.

A big thank you to our sponsors, who made production of this calendar possible. Click on the image at the right, to view our sponsor's logos.

Progress Report #2

Good progress is being made on the trestle rebuilding.

Trestles 15 and 14 are now complete and trestle 13 is well underway and will be finished by the end of November.

There have been some delays on trestle 2 but it is proceeding well now and should be finished by the end of November.

For more pictures on the trestle rebuilding visit our Photo Gallery.

Rock work at the trestle 3 site is nearly finished. If trestle 2 is finished in good time, so equipment can cross it, we hope to make a start on trestle 3 construction before the winter shutdown.

In the meantime, design work is continuing for trestles 4 and 5 on the Ruth side and for trestles 10 and 11 on the Myra side. These are to be rebuilt in 2006.

2005 Progress Report #1

As at the end of September, trestle 15 is complete and trestles 2 and 14 are well underway.

Barring unforeseen difficulties, we expect to reach our goal of completing trestles 2 and 14 as well as trestles 3 and 13 by the early part of December. Since trestle 12 survived the fire, this will bring us through the east tunnel to the site of trestle 11. And on the west side of the canyon, the completion of trestle 3 will bring us to the site of trestle 4, the longest and deepest of the wooden trestles.

Design work is now proceeding for trestles 10 and 11 and trestle 4. This will permit ordering materials over the winter so construction can start at the earliest possible time in the spring.

2005 Construction Update

Contracts have been let for the reconstruction of 5 of the trestles in the current season, with completion, hopefully by early December.

Seismic 2000, of Abbotsford is building Trestles 15, 14 and 13 from the Myra end of the trail. Trestle 15 is nearly complete.

Surespan Construction of West Vancouver is building trestles 2 and 3 from the Ruth end. Surespan built Trestle 18 last year.

Considerable rock work had to be undertaken to make the area safe for workers. It involves scaling, trim blasting and bolting. This is being done by T & A Drilling and the work for this season is almost complete.

The public is allowed to use the trail as far as Trestle 18 on the Myra side, and a little past Trestle 1 on the Ruth Side.

Because of the construction work and rock mediation work, the rest of the trail is closed.

The Myra road is in fairly good shape. The Little White road is rougher but still passable for ordinary vehicles. Take it slow!

The Trails B.C. bypass trail is now open for long distance cyclists. Apparently it is somewhat challenging in places but it is being used. It is properly signed from both the Myra and Little White junctions with the KVR railbed.

Design Engineer Selected

Earth Tech (Canada) Inc., of Kelowna, has been selected as the Design Engineer for the remaining trestles to be replaced

Project Manager Selected

Katim Enterprises, of Kelowna, has been selected as the Project Manager.

Annual General Meeting Held

Our AGM was held on March 15, 2005. If you would like to receive the minutes of the meeting, please go to "About Us", then to "Contact Us" and fill out the feedback form.

The minutes can be sent out by email (preferred) or by regular mail.

Annual General Meeting

Our AGM will be held:

Tuesday March 15, 2005
Okanagan University College
1000 KLO Road
Kelowna
Room B112 (Business Bldg)
At 7pm

Guest Speaker Blair Baldwin will give a talk on the Spirit of 2010 Trail, which uses abandoned railbeds, including the KVR.

Trestle #18 Completed

Reconstruction of Trestle 18 was completed about a week before Christmas. An accompanying photo, courtesty of Klaus Gattner, of West Canada Bike Tours, shows the completed trestle. One down, 11 to go.

Trestle #18 Progress Report

Rebuilding of Trestle #18 is well under way, as indicated by the accompanying photo.

The public is reminded that the area is off limits during construction activities.

Trestle #18 Progress Report

A contract worth $350,000 has been awarded to Surespan Construction to rebuild Trestle #18. Work is scheduled to start by the end of this week.

Please note that the Myra Canyon is still closed to public access while constuction is in progress.

Placing Ties on Trestle #1

A Request for Tender has gone out for the placing of cross ties on Trestle #1, and widening it to allow passage of heavy equipment.

Reconstruction Management Committee Formed

A project management committee to oversee the reconstruction of the trestles and other issues related to the reuse of the entire Myra Canyon was formed in August following the announcement by the Premier of the major funding for the rebuild project.

The members of the committee are primarily drawn from the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society -- Ken Campbell, Blair Baldwin, Mike Budd, Bob Whitehead, Carl Marcotte, Denis Frie -- along with David Richmond of BC Parks and James Klett of CP Rail.
The committee will shortly be inviting Requests for Proposals for design engineering services for replacement trestles.

It is expected that this Management committee will remain in-place until all the trestles are rebuilt and the Myra Canyon is re-opened to the public.

Funding Announced for Trestles

The long-awaited announcement on the funding came at a ceremony attended by Premier Campbell, Senator Ross Fitzpatrick, and several other local dignitaries. Costs for the total replacement and repair of all destroyed and damaged trestles will be covered up to 90% by the federal disaster relief program, and the remaining 10% by the provincial government. This cost is estimated at $13.5 million.

Completion of the reconstruction project is planned for the year 2007.