Jack Lake Bridge Closure and D123 Re-Route

There seem to be a lot of misconceptions and rumours around the closing and re-route of trail D-123 from Pickerel Lake to Burks Fall, here are the facts!
The Jack Lake bridge is a seventy year old eighty foot wooden bridge crossing the creek were it leaves Jack Lake. This bridge is located on private property on both sides and more private property surrounding that. This bridge has become increasingly less sound for many years, last year two main stringers broke almost rolling a $250,000 dollar groomer and its driver into the the river. In the spring upon inspection  it was found that this structure in its entirety was to old and to rotten to save and away to far gone to attempt repair. Either repair or replacement involves getting permits from the MNR and oceans and fisheries which are only obtainable with all landowner approvals, environmental  assessments and site engineering. MNR would never approve a repair on this bridge without engineering approvals which are no longer obtainable for this type of structure. It was suggested by a few local people that we try to repair it without obtaining permits, this would leave the club ADSC and its board of directors open to both liability suites, MNR fines from $5000 to $50,000 plus restoration costs which would be unimaginable, I can assure you this will not happen. If it was possible to obtain the permits, you would then have to engineer the removal of the old structure plus the new one that cost alone would be staggering add that to the cost and installation of a new bridge you would be looking in the $250,000 dollar range. Even if the club could afford this which we cannot it would still be at the total discretion of the landowner or adjoining landowners. This will not happen ever!

We have managed to secure a re-route byway of Garage road which we will do our best to improve on as time goes on. As it stands today we are still totaly at the mercy of the current and future land owners of Pickerel Lake Lodge and the surrounding property which could shut down any trail coming into or leaving Pickerel Lake so hope for the best. If you have any more questions regarding this trail or the Jack Lake bridge please feel free to call me at anytime. Please believe me when I say that we are doing everything within our power to maintain a viable link through your area and please put aside the rumours that a few certain people in the area have started regarding this situation. You are also invited at anytime to attend a club meeting at the Burks Falls Legion ever second Thursday of the month and we will discuss it first hand.

Jack Backus
ADSC pres