The B.C. Ministry of Transportation reports there will be two major construction projects starting this season on the Trans-Canada Highway between Salmon Arm and Golden. Both projects involve new bridge construction and highway improvements next to the bridges.
The Donald Bridge project began in March. The bridge is 26 kilometres west of Golden. The job will see the replacement of two bridges. One crosses the Columbia River and the second crosses the CPR mainline. The bridges will be increased from the current two lanes to four lanes. This project also includes construction of 3.5 kilometres of new four-lane highway.
The ministry of transportation expects only “minimal delays” mostly in off-peak hours. Work is scheduled to be completed in December, 2012.
The Clanwilliam Bridge project is closer to Revelstoke, located 11 kilometres west of town. This project involves replacing the existing two-lane bridge with four lanes, and the addition of 2.3 kilometres of four-lane highway surrounding the bridge.
The tender for the Clanwilliam Bridge was placed on BC Bid last week. Construction is expected to start in late spring or early summer. The transportation ministry again only expects “minimal delays,” mostly in off-peak hours.
Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Jeff Knight said no further repairs to the damaged Malakwa Bridge are expected.
Knight said that repairs to the Malakwa Bridge were “functioning as planned. The bridge was damaged in an April 9 crash involving two tractor-trailers. Knight said there is no project planned to replace the bridge.