The new pedestrian bridges and pathway connecting Ladner Harbour Park and the south arm marshes conservation area are now complete.
According to Delta's parks department, residents and visitors to the park can now walk the full perimeter of the lagoon and connect to the trail network within the park.
Council last fall awarded a contract for the design and construction of the two accessible pedestrian bridges and associated trail improvements.
The city had earlier received a bequest of more than $600,000 from the estate of Shirley Ann Bolhuis to complete the footpath around the harbour lagoon and the bridges.
The trail and metal bridges were to be wheelchair accessible and a plaque erected to recognize her gift to the people of Ladner.
Bolhuis passed away in 2004.
In addition to the lagoon works, which had an estimated $400,000 cost, there was also to be a wheelchair accessible plaza created in Lions Park at the edge of Chilukthan Slough.
That had an estimated cost of $80,000.
The Lions Park plaza is to be dedicated to the memory of Shirley's late brother “Big John” Bolhuis who passed away in 2017.
A plaque was also to be erected to recognize John, a beloved fixture in the Ladner community and life-long resident.
The bridge project has been on the City of Delta’s books since 2009 when the province decommissioned the western pedestrian bridge due to its poor condition.
The new western pedestrian bridge is now open. There's also a new eastern bridge.
The bridge removal limited trail use and despite Delta’s requests, the province was not prepared to reinstate that bridge, citing that funding was unavailable.
Initial efforts for the replacement of the western bridge included work in association with the Kiwanis Club of Ladner/Tsawwassen, but the club disbanded and other service clubs were pursuing other initiatives.
Ladner Harbour Lagoon is in the Ladner Marsh Conservation Area, which is owned by the province.
A report last year to council notes the city has an existing licence agreement for use of the lagoon for the trail and bridges and that agreement expires in 2024.
Delta has engaged the province regarding a 10-year extension of the agreement to secure the community's access through 2034.
