Editor:
My experience with Sunshine Coast Regional District parks suggests that the wait for repairs to the bridge in Cliff Gilker Park could be lengthy. The prolonged closure of the Vinebrook Bridge on the Suncoaster Trail is a concerning example. That bridge has now been condemned for more than two years following a long period of visible deterioration.
The Vinebrook Bridge provided a vital link along a well-used recreational corridor and was valued by walkers, runners, cyclists, and families throughout the Sunshine Coast. Since its closure, trail users have been diverted onto a nearby highway section without shoulders, creating serious safety risks.
I recognize the challenges SCRD parks face, including limited staff and competing demands. Still, it was disappointing to learn the Vinebrook bridge replacement has been delayed again, now to 2026. Staff have noted infrastructure concerns across the region, but this delay reflects more than just resource constraints. It points to broader issues in planning, management, and prioritization.
To illustrate: in early 2023, I was told an RFP would be issued by June. By July, that was off the table. In February 2024, I was informed funding was in place and completion was expected by the end of the year. Another RFP was anticipated by July 2024. Then the project was pushed to the 2025 budget process. Finally, in January 2025, I was told it had been deferred again, this time to 2026.
This series of missed targets is frustrating. It means more time without a safe, connected trail and adds to the perception that maintaining park infrastructure is not a priority. Residents are losing trust in local government’s ability to deliver the services it is responsible for.
I shared with SCRD staff a photo of a similar trail bridge recently completed in the Rainbow area of Whistler. That example shows there may be opportunities to learn from or collaborate with other jurisdictions that manage to get these projects done.
Yours truly,
Randy Johnson
Sakinaw Lake