The North Bay–Mattawa Conservation Authority is warning members of the public, including outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy using the Kate Pace Way to take a detour for the foreseeable future around the La Vase River bridge off Lakeshore Drive.
According to a service disruption notice posted by the NBMCA on Thursday morning, "The section of the Kate Pace Way between Lakeshore Drive and Decaire Road is closed until further notice. Sections of the bridge have been vandalized. Please use Riverbend Road to get around this section."
The Kate Pace Way is a multi-use trail for walking, jogging, cycling, and in-line skating, and is managed by the NBMCA and the City of North Bay. In winter, the trail and the damaged bridge serve as a link for snowmobile trails.
On Friday, NBMCA CEO Chitra Gowda confirmed several pieces of 6"x6" lumber had been removed from the outer edges of the bridge deck (see photo gallery above). The exposed bolts used to hold the wood in place have been deemed a safety hazard. No timeline has been established to make the repairs necessary to reopen the bridge but the NBMCA is seeking a quote for the materials.
The North Bay Police Service acknowledged it had received a call from the NBMCA about the incident but few leads have materialized.
In 2020, the NBMCA and user groups celebrated the grand reopening of the now-damaged deck of the bridge. Outdoors enthusiasts ranging from cyclists to snowmobilers rejoiced as an essential link of the trails they love to explore had received a makeover designed to keep it in service for years to come.
The South Shore Restoule Snowmobile Club and the Near North Trails Association (OFSC District 11) each contributed $5,000 to the overall $33,600 cost of the new deck for the bridge. The NBMCA put $11,600 toward the project, while the Great Trail provided a grant of $12,000.
The snowmobile groups who contributed to the project and its members carry a large economic impact on the area and use the trail system that includes the bridge over the La Vase River, as part of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club.
When the snow melts in the spring the bridge — and the entire trail system — reverts to an active transportation playground for all ages.
"As a section of the Great Canada Trail of Canada, the Kate Pace Way is part of the longest network of multi-use trails in the world," advises Mathieu Roy, vice-president of trail development and management of Trans Canada Trail. The Great Trail consists of more than 27,000 kilometres of trails, linking Canada and Canadians."
Also in 2020, the NBMCA put a similar detour in place while the deck was being replaced and then raised concerns after people ignored the "bridge closed" signs.
