The new pedestrian bridge across the Yukon River linking the Millennium Trail that runs along both sides of the Yukon River was in place shortly before noon Sunday.

Rain-drenched crews on the Riverdale side pushed the bridge with a specially-built ram fixed to large backhoe, a 165-ton crane imported from Ft. St. John , B.C., grabbed onto the structure from the Yukon Energy side of the river, to provide guidance and stability.

Installation of the five separate sections, each weighing between 23,000 and 24,000 pounds, began last Tuesday.

Doug Hnatiuk of the city's Parks and Recreation Department said this morning Ketza Construction, the Whitehorse company that was awarded the work last fall, has indicated the $790,000-Rotary Centennial Bridge is expected to be ready for use by the end of the month.

The project, he said, has come in within the budgeted amount of money.

In addition to funding from the city and federal funding sources, the Whitehorse and Yukon Rotary clubs have raised $85,000 through the sale of bridge planks, while Yukon Energy will be contributing a minimum of $53,000 toward the project.

Hnatiuk, who also serves as president of the Whitehorse Rotary Club, said the Ketza crew is currently securing the bridge on its final resting place, and will be installing the planks and handrails this week and next.

Barriers will be placed at both ends for safety reasons to keep pedestrians off the bridge until it's ready.

A grand opening is planned for July 7.

And with the new link to both sides of the river, Hnatiuk expects pedestrian activity on the trail system will increase.

'The trail itself is pushing out about 6,500 people a week now and you know that is going to go up once the bridge is open.'

The light-blue colour of the Rotary Centennial Bridge was chosen by the steering committee overseeing the project. The hue is meant to reflect both the blue used by the City of Whitehorse in its logos and the blue-yellow colours for the rotary clubs, Hnatiuk explained.