BROCKVILLE – Brockville’s Railway Tunnel Committee will lay out its plan and budget to city council Tuesday for restoring the historic landmark.
Brockville Railway Tunnel Committee member Linda Eyre will be asking council to give the go-ahead to put out tenders for contractors to restore the 156-year-old tunnel as well as the gorge, north of the tunnel.
City councillor Dave LeSueur is the railway tunnel committee chairman.
Also on the table is to get council approval to undertake planning for the next stage of the project – developing the railway lands west of the tunnel gorge.
The city has already earmarked $300,000 toward the $2.5 million first phase of the Railway Tunnel Park project.
In July 2015, the federal government gave $275,000 through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program for the restoration.
The balance will be paid for through private donations and grants, the committee said.
Once restored, it’s estimated the attraction will bring in 30,000 residents and tourists a year and provide $1 million a year in economic spinoffs.
It’s hoped the project would be complete by the summer of 2017 to coincide with Canada’s 150th birthday.
The meeting starts Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 7 p.m. at city hall.