The Doukhobor Suspension Bridge crosses the Kootenay River just upstream from where it meets Columbia River. The bridge was built by the Doukhobor community in 1913 to connected their villages and businesses in Brilliant to their agricultural properties and villages in Ootischenia.
src: http://www.usccdoukhobors.org
"The bridge consisted of two paired concrete towers supporting massive steel cables from which was suspended a structural steel wood-surfaced deck. The bridge design and supervision of construction was undertaken by a Vancouver firm while the bridge itself was built entirely by Doukhobor work crews using traditional hand-tools and techniques. Construction was completed in a remarkable period of only seven months at a cost of $60,000 dollars, approximately 2/3 of which was financed by the Doukhobors and 1/3 by the provincial government. It served the local traffic needs of the Doukhobor CCUB and later the USCC community as well as other local and regional residents, for over 50 years until it was finally closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the late 1960's."
src: http://www.usccdoukhobors.org
"The Brilliant Suspension Bridge operated functionally to 1966 until a new bridge was constructed to serve the growing needs of the nearby communities and airport access, which was important to Castlegar's growing economic development. Once the new bridge was constructed, the access to the old bridge was eventually cut off, and the bridge then sat dormant for many years."
src: http://www.brilliant-bridge.ca
The Brilliant Suspension Bridge has been designated a Canadian National Heritage Site and following the restoration it will be a focal point of a new Regional Park and part of the Trans Canada Trail through the Castlegar area.
Links for more detailed information on the bridge and the Doukhobors
Historic Brilliant Bridge
The Brilliant Suspension Bridge
About The Doukhobors
Doukhobor Genealogy Website
This cache is wheelchair accessible except for the actual hide. Some assistance would be needed.
KR
