Construction of a new bridge to replace the existing three culverts under 8th Street in downtown Dawson Creek, B.C. will start in June 2020. The bridge is designed to make travel safer and more efficient for people who live and work in the region, especially during freshet season.
“The 2016 floods caused a lot of hardship for people in the Peace District, and we want to make sure our infrastructure can withstand future flooding,” said Claire Trevena, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “I am proud of the work we have done throughout the province to safeguard our communities.”
The contractor, Brocor Construction Ltd., will begin by relocating municipal water and sewer lines to a location below the creek. Bridge construction will begin after the utilities are complete and functioning.
Once built, the new 45-metre-long bridge will maintain the existing road configuration, with five lanes for traffic and sidewalks on both sides of the road for pedestrians. The project, budgeted for $28 million, is expected to be complete in 2023.
“We are extremely excited to see the construction of the 8th Street bridge begin this year,” said Dale Bumstead, mayor of Dawson Creek. “The project has been an important piece of the infrastructure improvement for our community and region to assist in the overall flood mitigation work the City of Dawson Creek has been focused on for our city. The importance of the 8th Street bridge project cannot be overstated, and we appreciate the support of the Province of B.C. in completing this important project.”
During construction, two lanes will remain open on the existing structure to allow traffic to flow along Highway 2. Drivers are advised to follow instructions of traffic control personnel and obey the construction zone speed limit.
The ministry is working closely with the contractor and WorkSafeBC to ensure health and safety are maintained for all workers on site.
The B.C. provincial health officer has directed construction employers to take all necessary precautions to minimize the risks of COVID-19 transmission and illness to themselves and their employees. Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 like symptoms—such as sore throat, fever, sneezing, or coughing—will be directed to self-isolate at home for at least 10 days.
Header Image Credit: Government of B.C.
