The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has set a date for an open house regarding the Bruhn Bridge replacement project.
Staff from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will be available to go over the information, answer questions and receive feedback on the project, said a government release.
The information presented and feedback forms will be posted online after the start of the open house at www.gov.bc.ca/bchwy1-projects.
Three options for the bridge replacement have been discussed.
A B.C. government document lists a new Main Street bridge, along with new a four-lane structure crossing the narrows, as the preferred option for the replacement of the Bruhn Bridge.
One of the recommended options is for the existing Bruhn Bridge to be replaced with a four-lane structure. Additionally, a second bridge would be constructed at the end of Main Street landing, and the current Old Spallumcheen Road (OSR)/Highway 1 intersection would be closed.
The MOTI document notes this is the preferred option of council and First Nations.
The advantages of this option is that it improves safety by eliminating issues related to the OSR intersection, it supports future development along OSR, it enhances local connectivity between the east and west sides of Sicamous, required rock excavation is less than the other options and it allows one bridge to be constructed while traffic uses the other bridge.
Disadvantages include potential archaeological and cultural impacts and a potential impact to marine traffic. The document does not mention anything about future financial responsibility relating to the Main Street bridge and the District of Sicamous.
Sicamous Mayor Terry Rysz said he encourages everyone to come to the consultation, even if they are in favour or not of the project.
Rysz is in favour of the recommended option.
Another option is for a six-lane bridge on the TCH. With this, the intersection at OSR would be closed, but accessible to local traffic by two of the six lanes. A third option is for a five-lane bridge, with highway access to OSR available by an interchange further west along the highway.
