SPENCES BRIDGE, B.C. — Highway 1 south of Spences Bridge reopened for two-way traffic on Dec. 15, offering faster travel times two years after severe damage from the 2021 floods.
The Falls Creek Bridge, 55 kilometres south of Spences Bridge, will operate with a single lane in each direction, replacing a temporary single-lane bridge installed following the 2021 culvert washout. This interim solution precedes the completion of a new three-lane permanent Falls Creek bridge, slated for next year.
The 2021 floods had a significant impact on this region, with the Falls Creek culvert on Jackass Mountain being washed out. The floods led to the closure of Highway 1 through the Fraser-Thompson Corridor between Spences Bridge and Hope on Nov. 14, 2021. The extensive damage necessitated significant repair efforts.
Over 150 workers and 80 pieces of equipment were mobilized, moving more than 150,000 cubic metres of gravel, rock and other materials. This enabled the reopening of Highway 1 segments between Lytton to Spences Bridge on Jan. 14, 2022, and Lytton to Boston Bar on Jan. 24, 2022. In total, 18 sites on Highway 1 between Hope and Spences Bridge were affected, including four requiring extensive temporary repairs.
Jordan Spinks, chief of the Kanaka Bar Indian Band, expressed the community’s anticipation for the reopening, noting the long impact of the atmospheric river event on their daily commute. He appreciated the collaboration and information sharing during the highway repairs and looked forward to a return to normalcy in commuting and continued partnership in the Falls Creek Highway Project.
The new bridge is designed to improve traffic flow and withstand severe weather, marking an important step in enhancing infrastructure resilience. However, drivers are advised to expect reduced speed limits until the construction of the new bridge is completed.
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