Despite having had a rocky road this spring, the province maintains work on the Bruhn Bridge replacement on Highway 1 is on schedule and on budget.
Eight months into the project, stabilization and resurfacing of the existing bridge has been completed, as has watermain work, improvements to the alternate route along Highway 97A and 97B and slope stabilization following rock slides on April 10 and June 5.
While the slides closed the highway while being cleared, and delayed full daytime opening of the bridge by 10 days, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT) said that hasn't impacted the overall timeline.
"The project remains on schedule after daytime closures were extended to June 25 to allow for the safe removal of rock debris," the MoTT said in an email to the Observer, adding that additional work didn't affect the budget either.
"Geotechnical conditions were considered in the project budget and are continuously monitored to ensure the safety of both workers and the public.The project budget remains at $260.5 million."
Current work being done includes the ongoing pile driving for the in-water piers of the bridge foundation, and construction on the overpass detour. Once the bridge is complete, traffic to Old Spallumcheen Road will go under an overpass and, to accommodate its construction, a detour is being created adjacent to the existing highway.
The detour will allow for two lanes of traffic, and as it runs parallel to the existing road, traffic should flow as normal.
Daytime closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will resume on Sept. 16, while the boat launch at Finlayson Street will remain open to marine traffic, with no in-water impacts expected until 2026.
Updates on the project and road closures can be found on the R.W. Bruhn Bridge and Approaches .
