A year after the historic Red Bridge was destroyed by a suspicious fire, the planning process to reconnect Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops is officially underway.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit, in partnership with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the City, is leading work on potential solutions — including a conceptual design for a modern replacement bridge on the original Red Bridge alignment.

The planning process will also evaluate alternative transportation options, assess how a new crossing would affect surrounding roads and infrastructure, and review traffic data gathered since the fire.

Since the loss of the bridge, the province has implemented a number of safety improvements, including:

• Installation of a centre median barrier on Highway 5 between Valleyview Interchange and East Shuswap Road

• Removal of the left-turn access from Highway 5 onto River Street

• Extension of the left-turn lane onto Mount Paul Way

Shoreline cleanup and nearby park restoration along the South Thompson River was completed in June 2025. All of the work to date has been done in collaboration with local partners.

The preferred design options are expected to be shared with the public in spring 2026, and project updates are available here.

Remembering the Fire

The Red Bridge was destroyed in the early morning hours of September 19, 2024. First constructed in 1887 and rebuilt in the early 1900s, the bridge was more than a transportation link — it was a cultural and historical landmark shared by Kamloops and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc.

The fire broke out around 3:25 a.m., and the structure collapsed shortly after. It was the second fire on the bridge in two days, prompting the RCMP to deem the incident suspicious.

Kamloops RCMP have not announced any charges or confirmed the cause of the fire.

In the immediate aftermath, then-Deputy Mayor Stephen Karpuk described the loss as “tremendously sad,” and called for provincial support to ease traffic congestion and begin planning a long-term solution.

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir called the bridge “a historical landmark connecting our communities” and urged residents to take precautions amid poor air quality and travel disruptions.

The bridge had seen up to 8,000 vehicle trips per day before its destruction.

Premier: Red Bridge a “Priority”

Last week, Premier David Eby reaffirmed the province’s commitment to replacing the bridge, though he acknowledged the project is still in its early stages. “The impact of that severed connection is profoundly inconvenient for the local community,” said Eby during a media event in Logan Lake. “It’s a crucially important connector — and I continue to encourage the Transportation Minister to do the work with the community to deliver a replacement.”

Urban Systems Ltd. was awarded the design contract this past June. While the planning work is active, no official construction timeline has been released.

City Council has also asked for a public update on the project. A proposal to broaden the conversation to include a second river crossing was deferred.

Looking Ahead

One year after the fire, the sense of loss still lingers — but so does the shared commitment to move forward.

As planning continues, residents can expect more opportunities for public input and updates in the months ahead. For now, traffic continues to flow around the absence where the Red Bridge once stood — and where, in time, something new will rise.

Project updates: gov.bc.ca/tkemlupskamloopsnetwork