The city is moving forward with the project to remove the pedestrian bridge over Sumanik Drive and explore options for a temporary replacement.

City council approved the required budget amendment at its meeting Monday evening.

The pedestrian bridge is used by cross country skiers and hikers to access the trail network from the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre, though it’s not the only access.

Just as the city was preparing a tender for repairs to the bridge after it was struck by a transport truck in 2017, it was hit again in July by a waste management truck with its lift up.

It’s been closed to the public since.

An engineering assessment has recommended the bridge be removed before the snow arrives. The additional weight could lead to more concerns about the integrity of the structure and the risk to the public.

There is no word yet on when the city intends to issue a tender for the bridge’s removal.

Whitehorse ski club manager Ben Poudou said Wednesday if a temporary solution is not found, there are other ways to get to the trail network from the recreation centre. Those include the tunnel under Sumanik Drive.

“Definitely, the bridge is the most convenient way, but we have other ways,” he said.

Poudou pointed out Arctic Winter Games officials don’t even use the bridge to conduct their cross country ski races.

July’s collision was the third in four years.

The city had prepared a budget of $198,000 to repair the bridge before the most recent collision.

Of that, $128,000 was coming from federal gas tax money and $70,000 from an insurance payment.

The federal funding, however, is not available for the demolition work.

Council voted Monday to allocate the $128,000 from capital reserve funds.

It’s expected a portion of the funding from capital reserves will be reimbursed through an insurance claim.