Frustration is growing among local leaders and residents as the timeline to rebuild the Red Bridge continues to stretch nearly two years after its destruction.

The bridge, a key connection point between Kamloops and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, has yet to see construction begin, prompting renewed calls for action at all levels of government.

Member of Parliament Frank Caputo says he is now exploring whether the federal government can step in to help move the long-delayed project forward.

“We’re looking at the Red Bridge going on two years and it hasn’t been rebuilt yet,” Caputo said. “I would love to see federal money come in to help. While this is largely a provincial issue, people look to their federal leaders for action.”

Caputo added he has previously reached out to the federal Minister of Infrastructure without success, but plans to revisit the issue. He believes Ottawa could play a meaningful role, particularly as concerns from the community continue to grow.

“The timelines, to me, seem very long,” he said. “It’s something I’m hearing about directly and indirectly, and I think it’s something we need to look at federally.”

At the municipal level, Kamloops Coun. Kelly Hall echoed those concerns, describing the process as slow-moving and, at times, discouraging.

“It feels like we’re treading water,” Hall said in an interview. “It’s rather unfortunate.”

Hall pointed to upcoming steps in the process — including environmental and archaeological studies and public engagement — but questioned why those measures are only now being advanced.

“Quite frankly, I’m disappointed,” he said. “Here we are almost two years in, and we’re talking about studies and engagement that should have been done last year.”

City officials are now looking ahead to a critical decision point later this year. Recommendations are expected to go before a provincial standing committee in June, with hopes the project will reach Treasury Board for approval in the fall — a step seen as essential to getting construction underway.

“Seeing the Red Bridge come up in Treasury in the fall is critically important,” Hall said. “That’s when we start to see an actual bridge being built.”

Beyond the delays, Hall emphasized the real-world impact of the missing crossing. Before it was destroyed, more than 10,000 vehicles used the bridge daily. Since then, traffic has been diverted to other routes, increasing congestion and wear on local roads and highways.

“A community the size of Kamloops — about 105,000 people — along with Tk’emlúps, relies on that connection,” Hall said. “Those vehicles now have to find other ways across, and that’s putting pressure on the entire road network.”

Despite the slow progress, Hall noted there is growing alignment among local governments, Indigenous leadership, and even opposition politicians at both the provincial and federal levels.

“It’s important that decision-makers see that everyone in the community is unified on this,” he said. “We need the province to step up.”

With timelines still uncertain and key approvals pending, both local and federal representatives say they will continue pushing for faster action — warning that patience in the community is wearing thin.