VICTORIA – The Government of British Columbia has announced plans to construct a new two-lane bridge over the Nass River in northern B.C. to replace an old single-lane timber structure.
The new bridge will be located on Highway 37, 75 kilometres east of Stewart, just upstream from the current structure, said a recent media statement. The two lanes will be able to accommodate heavier commercial vehicles and will have shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists.
As part of the project, approximately one kilometre of Highway 37 will be realigned on each end of the bridge to improve sightlines. The new design will allow traffic to cross the bridge deck at 90 kilometres per hour, instead of the original 30 kilometres per hour speed limit.
In addition, the rest area at the east end of the bridge will be relocated and will include a new pedestrian viewpoint and new washroom facilities.
“Replacing this single-lane bridge from 1972 with a new two-lane bridge will greatly improve safety and mobility for people in the region,” said Claire Trevena, B.C. minister of transportation and infrastructure, in the statement.
“The new bridge will be built to modern standards and help keep traffic flowing smoothly along Highway 37, a key north-south connection for British Columbians and our resource sectors.”
A successful bidder has been selected and the ministry is in the process of awarding the construction contract. The total value of the project, including planning, design and engineering work and construction, is $24 million.
The federal government is contributing $10.7 million to the project and the provincial government will contribute the rest.
Construction will begin in spring 2018, with completion scheduled in fall 2019.
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