KINSOL TRESTLE BRIDGE REHABILITATION
Location: Shawnigan, BC
Project Type: Pedestrian Bridges
About This Project
As a basis for restoration planning, Cascade Engineering (now part of ISL) analyzed data using RISA 3-D and conducted a full physical inspection of the trestle that included over 400 wood-bore samples. Restoration work included the replacement of unsound timbers, minor refurbishment of a Howe Truss substructure and rebuilding of 17 structural piers to support the new 614-foot walkway atop the structure.
Construction of the bridge incorporated concrete footings, six Howe trusses and more than 1.2 million board feet of timber—all of it second growth BCgrown Douglas-fir and cypress. The project has been recognized with several awards for its dedication to sustainability since the rehabilitated bridge retains 60 per cent of its historic timber.


- Coming up with a viable solution to save the bridge
- Designing the bridge substructure to resist wind and seismic loads
- Integrating new with old in designing the wood connections
- Expert advice enabled the owner to justify keeping the bridge
- Careful analysis enabled the bridge code requirements to be met
- Care was taken in selecting the materials and designing the connections so they matched the original structure