Inuvik (May 09/03) - The Boot Lake Trail system is about complete with the addition of a bridge spanning the creek.

The project was a joint initiative funded by the Town of Inuvik with labour provided by the Aurora College welding students.

Project co-ordinator Rory Boudrach said they began welding the bridge in mid-January and had the pieces in place last weekend.

Instructor Bill O'Gorman said the project worked well for both the town and the college, giving the students some good practical experience on a large project.

"The students did the actual work, but they were supervised by myself and a qualified welder," O'Gorman said.

The town provided the materials and the students fabricated the bridge according to the design.

O'Gorman said the bridge was built in seven sections to total a span of 35.5 metres.

The sections were fabricated from I-beam steel, covered with steel walking grate. Wooden hand rails capped off the design.

The 11 students worked on a number of projects over the course, but the bridge was by far the biggest project.

Boudrach said they balanced the course out with a level of theory and practical work.

"It was mostly practical work, done under the supervision of a qualified welder," Boudrach said.

They had planned to erect the bridge with the use of a crane, but other commitments made the crane unavailable, so the sections were placed with a loader.

The bridge is now open, but town staff are levelling the sections and bolting the railings together.