Kamloops City Council has voted to request a public report on the status of the Red Bridge replacement project and the City’s involvement — while holding off, for now, on broader conversations about a second river crossing.

The move comes amid early-stage work by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit, which has officially confirmed that Urban Systems Limited was awarded the design consultancy contract for the project in late June. The contract followed a competitive request-for-proposal (RFP) process and marks the start of planning and design efforts to replace the Red Bridge, which was destroyed by fire in September 2024.

Province Leads, With City and T’Kemlúps te Secwépemc as Partners

In a statement, the Ministry said it is partnering with T’Kemlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops to determine transportation plans over the South Thompson River. The work includes engineering investigations, evaluating replacement options, and considering potential improvements to the broader transportation network in the Kamloops area.

“As the project is still in its preliminary stages, it is too early to speculate on what a replacement or other improvements might look like,” the Ministry said. “Once the planning and design engineering team has gathered the needed information, the Ministry will be in a better position to do so.”

Officials emphasized that the Red Bridge is a provincial asset and will be replaced at the Province’s expense. The Ministry also clarified that it has not been involved in any discussions about additional river crossings unrelated to existing ministry infrastructure.

Currently, Overlanders and Lafarge bridges are under City of Kamloops jurisdiction, while the Halston and Highway 5 bridges fall under provincial control.

Council Weighs — Then Shelves — Second Crossing Debate

During Tuesday’s Council meeting, a recommendation was brought forward requesting a staff report not only on the Red Bridge but also on broader issues such as relationship engagement and “the necessity of a second river crossing.” However, the suggestion prompted immediate pushback from some councillors who worried it could create confusion or unrealistic expectations among residents.

Councillor Katie Neustaeter supported the broader scope, emphasizing that the second crossing conversation shouldn’t be eclipsed by the Red Bridge replacement. “We are not making a decision between a Red Bridge and another access point,” she said. “It’s a non-negotiable point. Kamloops is owed two bridges.”

Others urged caution. Councillor Dale Bass warned against “muddying the conversation.”

“If we think we’re going to get two bridges — not in my lifetime,” she said. “We do need it, but we’re not going to get it.”

Councillor Mike O’Reilly also raised concerns about blurring jurisdictional lines and emphasized staying focused on the Red Bridge as a clearly defined provincial responsibility.

Ultimately, Council passed an amended motion, stripping out references to a second crossing. The approved version requests a staff report focused solely on the Red Bridge project and intergovernmental engagement, to be presented at a future Council or Committee of the Whole meeting.

Jurisdiction, Costs Complicate Future Crossing Plans

Some confusion also arose over who would be responsible for funding any new bridge not tied to existing provincial infrastructure. O’Reilly questioned past assumptions that a future third crossing — such as one proposed near the airport — would fall under the Province’s purview.

City staff clarified that while the Province is leading the Red Bridge replacement, any new crossing would likely require cooperation between multiple levels of government due to the significant cost involved.

“We’re going to be looking for lots of friends,” staff said. “We’re not going to go it alone on something that will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.”

A long-discussed feasibility study for a second crossing was previously delayed but may return for consideration in the 2026 budget cycle.

What’s Next

While Urban Systems begins work on engineering and planning, no timeline has yet been released for construction of the new bridge. The Ministry has reiterated that its current focus remains on fulfilling the scope of work defined in the Red Bridge RFP.

Council hopes the forthcoming staff report will clarify the City’s role in the project and offer the public a clearer understanding of next steps.

For now, although the Red Bridge replacement is officially underway, conversations about a second crossing remain on hold — at least for now.