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Contract awarded as Bruhn Bridge replacement work to begin ‘in a few weeks’

Victor Kaisar
Sep 4, 2024 | 1:42 PM


Contract awarded as Bruhn Bridge replacement work to begin 'in a few weeks'

A rendering of the new RW Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous. (Photo via BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

The B.C. Government has awarded a $136-million contract for the replacement of the R.W. Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous to AECON-Emil Anderson General Partnership (AEGP).

It says work to replace the 62-year-old bridge will begin in the coming weeks, with the contractor tasked with improving 2.5 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway.

“The project includes four-laning 1.9 kilometres of highway, replacing the R.W. Bruhn Bridge with a new four-lane structure, and upgrading intersections between Old Sicamous Road and Silver Sands Road,” the province said, in a statement.

“The project also includes a new multi-use path to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists travelling across the Sicamous Narrows and into Sicamous.”

The Province says the recent crash on the bridge that killed a semi-truck driver will “not affect the scope or timing of work,” which is expected to wrap up in 2027.

There will be intermittent shutdowns of Highway 1 which work is underway with drivers required to detour on Highway 97A and 97B. Those detours are expected to add anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes to people’s travel times, depending on the time of year.

Notices of closures and traffic disruptions, including possible periods of single-lane-alternating traffic as well as short, intermittent full closures, will be available on DriveBC.

“Its definitely needed because we call it a bridge but it is the Trans-Canada Highway,” Sicamous Mayor Colleen Anderson told Radio NL. “It’s a major route that impacts our goods and services, so its has to be done quickly and MOTI is focused on doing it quickly as well.”

“We all know that road construction is annoying for all of us but yeah, while that is going on that bridge may be closed while they’re doing their blasting.”

The Province says when complete, the intersection at Old Spallumcheen Road and Highway 1 just west of the existing bridge will be closed and replaced “with safer access that eliminates left turns.”

The total bridge replacement project is expected to cost around $260 million, according to the province, with $91.1 million coming from the Federal Government.

Expected work times, delays, for work to replace Bruhn Bridge along the Trans-Canada in Sicamous/via MOTI