The double-deck bridge over the Fraser River at Hope - circa 1950 Photographer unknown - British Columbia Archives.

19 October 2012

Historian Will Present Stories and Images of Fraser-Hope Bridge

Hope British Columbia - Prior to the opening of the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) in 1916, the main mode of railway transport to the Hope region was via the Canadian Pacific Railway on the opposite bank of the Fraser River and the newly-opened Canadian National Railway that passed directly through Hope.
 
While the KVR only operated until 1959, Hope still reaps a benefit from the route to this very day because of the existence of the railway tunnels and bridges that remain just outside of Hope in the Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park.
 
These continue to be a major tourism draw for our community.
 
Perhaps more importantly though, Hope still enjoys the use of the large bridge that the KVR built over the Fraser River to connect their line to the CPR mainline.
 
Many Trans-Canada Highway travelers, and Hope residents, do not realize that the Fraser-Hope bridge is also a legacy of the KVR and may soon play a new role as a tourism attraction in its own right as a key piece in the Experience the Fraser regional trail plan linking Hope to the Salish Sea.
 
The Hope Museum and the Hope branch of the Fraser Valley Regional Library are therefore pleased to present Joe Smuin, well known KVR historian and author of two books on the KVR, at the Hope Library on Tuesday, 23 Oct 2012, at 7 p.m. in the Hope Library with his presentation on the construction of the Fraser-Hope bridge.
 
Everyone is welcome to attend this free presentation to view some never before seen images of this local bridge during its construction 100 years ago.
 
For more information call the Hope Library at 604-869-2313 or the Hope Museum at 604-869-7322.
 
Inge Wilson.