The initial restoration of the Cull Drain Bridge is underway.
This historic span has been sitting in Mike Weir Park with a fence around it since it was removed from Old Lakeshore Road in 2014.
Friends of the Cull Drain Bridge spokesperson Steve Loxton said one of the corners was cut off of the structure earlier this month.
"We managed to remove one of the end posts that was highly deteriorated and we intend to use it as template patterns for new material, new parts, to be put back on," Loxton said.
He said a team helped with the removal.
"We had five people out helping us with the removal. We have a Facebook group with about 450 members on it right now. So, there's pretty broad public support for the restoration effort I think."
The group hopes to restore the four end posts first.
"Our big goal was to get this first material removed, so that we would have some material to work with over the winter. I've now got that end post at my shop and I'll be working over the winter to disassemble it and create this new material."
Loxton said fundraising efforts will be taken up a notch now that physical work has started.
"We're taking pledges and still working on getting our charitable designation. This work signifies the beginning, or the kick-off, of that fundraising."
City staff have approached the project with the plan of not incurring any costs for the city, beyond staff time required to support it.
The structure was removed from Old Lakeshore Road because an engineer's inspection report said it was in danger of collapse.
