The Mayor of Cache Creek says he welcomes plans for a new bridge across Highway 97 to allow the actual Cache Creek to flow freely under the road.

John Ranta says he expects residents in the community to feel the same way as the village continues to rebuild after yet another spring flood.

“We’ve been subject to five years of flooding over the last eight years and this most recent flood event was because of the amount of water coming down Cache Creek, which normally is just a little babbling brook,” Ranta said.

“This year, it overflowed the culverts which resulted in the loss of the sidewalk on the west side of Highway 97.”

Ranta also noted damage to culverts in two other places in Cache Creek, including the Todd Road bridge, focing residents to take the long way around to get to the Post Office.

“It took out the entrance and the exit to that bridge and it did damage to the bridge across the Bonaparte River, way down the highway near the Husky Gas station,” Ranta said.

The Ministry of Transportation says this new bridge will be designed to handle peak river flows and debris, especially during the spring freshet.

“It will accommodate increases in peak water flows caused by climate change and will be built to ensure structural stability against erosion,” a Ministry statement said.

Highway 97 through Cache Creek was closed to all traffic on May 2 because of a massive washout caused by flooding this spring. It reopened to a single lane of traffic two days later on May 4, before reopening to all traffic just ahead of the May long weekend.

Ranta tells Radio NL he is glad to see plans for this more permanent fix, though it’s not clear when construction will begin or when the bridge will be completed.

“I think the province has now recognized that spending money to restore works to pre-flood conditions or pre-event conditions is just a waste of money, because you have to do it year after year after year,” Ranta said.

“And so I think there is a greater realization that its important to try and repair things so that you don’t wind up with the same sort of impacts as what you see today.”

Residents in Cache Creek will be able to get a first hand look at the planned improvements at an open house at the Cache Creek Community Hall – located at 1270 Stage Rd. – between 4 and 7 p.m. on Oct. 4.

Residents with questions or comments can send them by email here.