The plan to light up Victoria Street Bridge isn't kaput, it's just delayed until next year.
After an estimate for decorative lights on the Trail landmark came in about $125,000 above budget, city council opted to defer the project until 2016 budget talks.
The capital project was approved this year for $375,000, but a recent review revealed 96 programmable LEDS would actually near $500,000, not including a five per cent contingency.
“Project development goes through and defines the scope and nature of material that's going to be installed,” David Perehudoff, Trail's chief administrative officer, explained during the Sept. 28 governance meeting. “The number gets from a Class C to a Class A estimate, (showing) inflationary pressures, exchange pressures and the like,” he added. “In this context there's no surprises because we haven't gone to tender yet...the information is so council knows in advance the cost and to ensure that funding is in place before the project proceeds.”
The initiative launched last winter following an agreement between the city and the Downtown Opportunities and Action Committee (DOAC). The business group came up with the idea and committed to raising half the funds in the original estimate, or $190,000.
Through the DOAC's Victoria Street Buy-a-Light campaign, $17,000 has been raised to date, adding to $154,000 secured through private and corporate sponsorships.
The fundraising drive is still going and for a $200 charitable donation, anyone wishing to “Buy-a-Light” can do so by visiting Trail City Hall or by accessing the form on the city's website, trail.ca.
“I support the direction being suggested here because it's too late this year to do anything on the bridge,” said Trail Mayor Mike Martin.
He suggested that council consider completing the project by next spring, in time for the city's annual May event.
“My thought is we have a great opportunity to celebrate this lighting project at Silver City Days,” he explained. “If we can get this in prior to that point and kick off the celebrations with the lighting of the bridge,” Martin added.
“That's a fantastic conclusion to a project that has been so well supported by so many in the community.”