The Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGRT) is a 55 km multi‐use recreation trail managed by the Capital Regional District (CRD), which runs between Victoria and Leechtown. The picturesque trail follows an old railway corridor which averages 3.8 million visits each year for recreational use (cycling, equestrian and pedestrian), and is anticipated to experience a significant increase in future demand.

The GGRT Bridge Improvement project commenced in 2018 when Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB) was retained by the CRD to assess 13 bridges along the trail. In 2021, a multi-site project was approved to improve/maintain the trail infrastructure, including the replacement of two single span bridges, foundation repair of a multi-span bridge, and deck replacement of an old railway trestle converted for pedestrian use.
The existing Bilston Creek Bridge #1 and Bilston Creek Bridge #2 were timber structures that had reached the end of their service life and needed replacement. KCB designed new steel girder bridges to satisfy future user and environmental demands, with increased hydraulic clearance over the creek to account for larger flows due to climate change. The bridges were designed using prefabricated components to optimize the schedule, thereby reducing disruption to the community and the aquatic habitat. The foundation repairs at Veitch Creek Bridge reinstated the bearing capacity of three undermined pier footings and implemented cut-off walls to reduce the risk of future scour. The extensive instream works were completed successfully with minimal environmental and archaeological impact. The Charters Trestle deck rehabilitation included the replacement of more than 100 meters of timber deck panels as well as deteriorated timber ties, allowing for continued safe public use.

The collaborative efforts from all parties involved enabled all projects to be effectively completed with the available funding and with minimal environmental impact and disruption to trail users.

Design and construction of the bridges required a careful approach due to the GGRT’s high profile, extensive use, and proximity to environmentally/archaeologically sensitive areas. Another challenge was to design and construct the bridges adjacent to a high-pressure gas line that services Sooke. Minimizing impact to trail users and designing for future demands were the main objectives for the Bilston Creek Bridges. KCB designed both bridges with prefabricated components that fit around the existing gas line and minimized the construction schedule. The thoughtful design and efficient construction enabled each superstructure (steel girders, precast panels and steel railings) to be installed in one day.

The Veitch Creek Bridge is located near a registered archaeological site at the tidally influenced mouth of Veitch Creek. The foundation repair design focused on minimizing ground disturbance at the archaeological site and impact to the creek. The practical repair solution required small, agile construction equipment that could access the foundations without disturbing the embankment slopes. With well-planned creek diversion staging which considered tidal conditions, the pier undermining was repaired with limited environmental impact.

Design and construction of the Charters Trestle deck replacement was phased to allow for deck panel removal, subdeck inspection, and deck panel reinstatement to be done concurrently, which reduced the time the trestle was closed to the public.

The collaborative efforts between KCB, the CRD, utility owners and contractors enabled all bridge projects to be successfully completed on time and within budget, with minimal impact to trail users, the environment, and nearby archaeological sites. These bridges are currently in service providing a safe, resilient, and accessible trail for the public and positioned to support the increasing future user volumes resulting from population growth in the area and shifts towards active transportation.