
A look at a section of Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge as seen in Spring 2023. (Photo via BC Ministry of Transportation)
The B.C. government says it has identified four teams of contractors who could be designing and constructing permanent repairs to a portion of Highway 8, about 15 kilometres east of Spences Bridge.
It says the four teams – AEGP (Aecon-Emil Anderson Construction General Partnership), Atkins Réalis, EllisDon Corporation, and Flatiron Constructors Canada – will take part in the request for proposals phase, with design work set to get underway this fall.
“Work will include replacing two temporary structures with permanent bridges, and construction of approximately three kilometres of highway connecting the bridges,” the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said, in a news release Tuesday.
“After evaluating the RFP submissions, the ministry will choose the team that will design and build the highway section.”
The ministry says there will be other permanent repairs coming to the Highway 8 corridor, which was damaged by floods in 2021.
Temporary repairs to areas of the highway that were damaged were completed in November of 2022, allowing the province to reopen that stretch of highway that connects Merritt and Spences Bridge.
Several sections still have gravel surfaces with reduced speed limits and as such, should Highway 1 or Highway 5 be closed for any reason, the Ministry says non-local traffic is not allowed on Highway 8 as it is an active construction zone.
“Permanent repairs to the highway will improve safe access for residents and will be built with a climate-resilient design to withstand future weather-related events,” MOTI added, in its news release.
For the latest on repairs and updates on repairs to Highway 8, go here.