By David Wiwchar

$739,000 needed for bridge repairs

Boyko bridges trail debate

Nov 14, 2025 | 9:15 AM

A rift has developed between Alberni – Clayoquot Regional District directors as they debated what to do about trail bridges.

Structural engineers studied 11 bridges on the Log Train Trail as well as other district bridges and docks.

While most of the bridges along the 20 km trail are repurposed logging bridges, others are built on car frames and log stringers, and don’t conform to modern codes, and would require more than $700,000 in upgrades.

Beaufort-area director Fred Boyko says trail bridges have always been maintained by volunteers, and should continue to be.

“Even though this has been done with volunteers for the past decades, we are now going to say ‘nope, you can’t do that anymore, the ACRD is going to take that over’. We need to make sure we’re doing what the public wants not what an engineering consulting company and staff is suggesting,” he said. “If we take to the people that we want to spend 3/4 of $1million to rebuild the bridges on the Log Train Trail, people will revolt. I’ve been reading up on the history of the Log Train Trail and it started with volunteers from the equestrian side and everone else and that’s how it’s been done, and we need to keep that going forward.”

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ACRD Directors discussed risk management, including posting signs warning users of the possible risk to reduce their liability.

Staff were directed to study how other regional districts manage volunteer trail building and legal liabilities.