The final link of the Wakamow Valley trail system will be under repair this fall. 

The all seasons concrete culvert bridge that was installed through the waterway last November linking Paashkwow Park West and Kingsway Eco Zone has shifted due to winter runoff washing out the ground below and will require an update once water levels drop. 

Todd Johnson, General Manager for the Wakamow Valley Authority says the issue has been on Wakamow's radar for several months, but it's been a bit of a process to deal with it correctly. 

"So the process, first of all, when it came to our attention that the culverts had tilted, was trying to come up with a solution, but we [couldn't] enter the water because of fish spawning at that time," said Johnson, Wednesday. "We have to wait for the water levels to decline for us to be able to get into the area, so we've just secured it and tried to keep people away from the bridge for their own safety."

The 20,000lb concrete blocks were installed on frozen ground last November. It was a project that initially cost the Authority $100,000. Johnson said the repairs will likely require another $100,000 to complete that will be paid for using three different methods.  

"Basically, we are doing similar work with an engineer approved plan. Some of it will be doing fundraising, some of it we've already budgeted for because we knew that in our budget process the bridge is already tilted, so we've accounted for it. Some of it will come out of saving. So those three things, fundraising, budget, and out of savings, depending on how fundraising goes."

Johnson said engineers have already submitted their plans, so the next steps are securing a contractor, waiting for water levels to drop, and obtaining the go-ahead from the Moose Jaw Water Security Agency.

Johnson said he appreciates the public's patience with the process of this project. 

"It seems like a long time; it is a long time. Every step has to be taken to ensure that we're not disturbing the wildlife that lives in the water." 

Initial plans for the bridge included the installation of a handrail system, which Johnson said is built and ready to go and will be installed once the repairs have been completed.