This new pedestrian bridge and shared-use pathway project responds to community feedback (Sturgeon Valley Trails System: The Path Forward report, December 2021) in which residents reported feeling unsafe, uncomfortable, and unmotivated to walk or bike in the area.

The new Starkey Road pedestrian bridge will eliminate the Sturgeon River as a barrier creating a seamless path. The new pathway will connect pedestrians from south of the Sturgeon River on the west side of Starkey Road right into the Bellerose Park pathway system.

The new pedestrian bridge will benefit nearby residents and attract visitors to the area as well as become a key connection in the expanding Sturgeon Valley Active Transportation network.

In addition to building a robust trails system for people walking, biking, and wheeling, providing options for healthy activity, and enhancing connections to the community and the environment, the Starkey Road shared-use path and active transportation bridge will serve as a connecting route to places of leisure, commerce, and employment for commuters and casual users alike.

The approved project is $4.48 M. $1.74 M is provided from the Active Transportation Fund a federal fund that targets active transportation to support a modal shift away from cars and toward active transpiration, in support of Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy.

This project will be completed in phases. Even if there’s no visible activity on-site, it doesn’t mean progress has paused. There is work happening behind the scenes to ensure the project moves forward smoothly and safely.

Phase 1. The primary objective of this phase is to prepare the area adjacent to fairway 15 of the Sturgeon Valley Golf and Country Club for a new fence by pre-grading the area and completing other small scopes items.

Construction on the project has not yet begun at scale. Before we could proceed with the primary scope of work, several prerequisites had to be finalized, including engineering and design work (with significant geotechnical investigations and analysis), land acquisition finalization, and associated environmental investigation work for permitting purposes.

Remaining project elements—such as the area around the bridge site—are planned for completion in 2026. This phased approach ensures we can deliver the project as quickly as possible, within the approved budget, and in alignment with the requirements of our federal grant funding.

Sturgeon County wants to make sure the Starkey Road pedestrian bridge reflects the community’s style and character. The bridge should be a beautiful place enhancing the sense of place that residents can take pride in and enjoy as part of the trail system.

An engagement session was held on Jan. 29, 2025, and residents were able to complete an online survey and provide input regarding the bridge appearance. Sturgeon County will consider this feedback when the Transportation and Engineering Department selects the final design.