Victoria will be eligible for millions in federal funds even if it chooses to refurbish rather than replace the aging Johnson Street bridge.

Victoria MP Denise Savoie says she has confirmation from federal Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister John Baird that the bridge repair would be eligible for at least one-third federal funding.

Previously, that level of funding had only been confirmed for the $63-million replacement option.

In a written response to Savoie, Baird says that "if engineering reports suggest this is feasible and if residents support that option in a referendum," at least one-third federal funding would be available for refurbishment.

Savoie would not release a copy of the correspondence.

"My job is to ensure that there's funding regardless of the option that the city and the citizens decide they want," said Savoie, a former city councillor.

An assessment by consultants Delcan Corp. found the bridge will fail in an earthquake of any significant magnitude and is in need of extensive repairs or replacement.

But the city was forced to rethink plans to borrow $42 million toward the cost of replacing the bridge after more than 10 per cent of eligible voters signed petitions forcing a referendum on the borrowing.

Since then, city staff have been re-examining the options and are set to make a full report to councillors Feb. 18, project spokesman Howard Markson said yesterday.

The report will take a detailed look at the costs of refurbishment versus a new bridge, he said. "Council ultimately is committed to a referendum so they will probably use this report on the basis of deciding when to hold a referendum and what that should be."

Mat Wright, one of the directors of johnsonstreetbridge.org, the group that spearheaded the petition drive, called the refurbishment-funding confirmation "phenomenal."

Ross Crockford, another director, said the next step should be an independent and unbiased examination of the refurbishment option.

"They're going to have to convince the public that there has been a thorough examination of the possibilities," Crockford said. "Are they going to do any survey of public opinion of repair or replace?"

Crockford said that as far as he knows, none of the heritage-bridge experts his group consulted during the petition campaign has been contacted by city staff since the petition closed Jan. 4.

Availability of federal funding for refurbishment became an issue in the counter-petition campaign. Critics, including Coun. Geoff Young, called a city "fact sheet" on the options misleading in part because it listed $21 million in federal funds available for the replacement option and nothing for refurbishment.

Refurbishment of the bridge has been estimated by the city to cost about $35 million. One-third federal funding would cut the city's cost to $23.4 million.

If the city convinces other parties such as the Capital Regional District to contribute to the project, Wright said, it's possible they could repair the bridge without borrowing.

bcleverley@tc.canwest.com