Trout Lake Trestle Update

Work is to commence in about two weeks on the restoration of the RGS Trout Lake Trestle 51A. There was a meeting this past week at the site with the Forest Service, San Miguel County, contractor, and Colorado Historical Society representatives to discuss final details. Only a portion of the trestle, like 5 bents, is to be rebuilt under the current contract as there was insufficient money to do the whole thing. The remaining bents and redecking of the trestle will have to await further funding.
The money is coming from the Scenic Byways program and the State Historical Fund. The bridge sits on Forest Service land, which explains their involvement. The initial effort on this structure started in 1995, so the gears of various governmantal agencies grind very slowly--good thing the trestle was patient enough to survive the inefficiencies of these agencies, principally the Forest Service.
It would be nice to see rail again on the structure, but the powers to be need to be convinced that would complete the restoration as opposed to the current thinking of just saving it.