Construction of a new pedestrian bridge over the Conestogo River in Wallenstein as part of the Guelph-to-Goderich trail could start later this year.

Waterloo regional councillors voted to approve the two‑span trestle bridge project during the sustainability, infrastructure and development committee on Tuesday.

The entire project would cost $8.6 million, but Willow Hall, executive director of the Guelph-To-Goderich (G2G) Rail Trail, told councillors $5.5 million of that has already been covered by private donors.

“That level of commitment says something important. People believe in this project,” Hall told regional councillors

Hall also said the bridge would make the trail a destination and draw visitors from outside the area “to experience something unique — a safe, accessible journey through a working rural landscape where people can encounter nature, agriculture and small town Ontario in a way that is direct, memorable and increasingly rare.”

The G2G Rail Trail is on a former railway line that runs more than 130 km from Guelph to the shores of Lake Huron in Goderich. It’s largely a stone dust trail that is level, making it ideal for people of any ability to walk or cycle along it.

There are spots along the trail, though, where people have to detour because bridges no longer exist.

Jill Murray-Dimic with the Ontario Conservation Accelerator said the project is “nearly shovel ready” and encouraged regional councillors to support it given the interest from the community.

“Donors want to leave a legacy of access, safety, recreation and connection benefits that extend to local residents, people across Ontario and visitors from beyond,” Murray-Dimic said.

“They believe is the right project at the right time and when donors are willing to invest at this level, it signals credibility, momentum and clear long-term benefit.”

Coun. Pam Wolf said she found the community support for the project to be “extremely impressive” and “for us to vote against this and ignore the wishes of the community that has come out so strongly in favour of this bridge, I think sends definitely the wrong message.”

Wolf said she was impressed the trail saw 193,000 trips last year and added increasing cycling tourism is a good investment for the region.

Mathieu Goetzke, the region’s acting chief administrative officer, said staff were excited to bring a report forward recommending moving forward with the project.

“It will really strengthen the G2G Trail network and support recreation, tourism and broader economic development in the region,” he said.

The region will spend $1.2 million to support the project, with funding coming from the general tax supported capital reserve fund.

He added the plan is to tender and construct the bridge in 2026, if feasible.