PRESS RELEASE

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE"

The Castlegar and District Recreation Department of the Regional District of Central Kootenay, is pleased to announce the issue of the Tender to restore the historic Brilliant Suspension Bridge.

Chairperson of the Brilliant Bridge Restoration Committee, Lawrence Makortoff, was pleased over the release of the Tender. "Many people have been working for a lot of years to get this project off the ground and it is finally going to happen. It will be a terrific asset to the Culture and Heritage of Castlegar and the entire Kootenay Region. It will be a major Tourism attraction and showcase for the Doukhobor Community and will tie in nicely to the trail network, including the Trans Canada Trail, of the Castlegar Area."

"We are one giant step closer to this project becoming a reality" states Manager of Recreation, Jim Crockett. "If all goes well, we hope to see the Bridge completed before winter sets in". "We have hired McGinn Engineering and Preservation to oversee the project and they, along with structural sub consultants AECOM Engineering and Geotechnical Engineers WSA, designed and drew up the contract documents for the project"

The Brilliant Suspension Bridge was constructed in 1913 by the Doukhobor Community and was used as the main highway bridge connecting Castlegar to Nelson, Salmo and points beyond, until 1966 when the new highway bridge was built. In 1995 it was designated a National Historic Site but the Bridge fell into disrepair. A committee has been working on and off since the early 1990's to restore the Bridge with the last serious attempt resulting in the release of the Tender today.

The Castlegar and District Recreation Department of the RDCK represents the City of Castlegar and Areas I and J. For more information on the bridge, please go to www.brilliant-bridge.ca or to view the tender package go to the Regional District of Central Kootenay Website at www.rdck.bc.ca.