Construction is set to begin on a new single span bridge in Port Alberni.
The $3 million bridge will be located across Roger Creek on the Redford Extension above West Coast General Hospital.
The bridge will be built upstream of the existing culvert system. The culvert is prone to getting plugged by logs upstream. If a large enough obstruction occurred “there would be a very big wall of water that could wash down into Port Alberni,” said Allan Galambos of BF Binnie and Associates, the project manager.
A report to council noted that by replacing the relatively small opening of a culvert with a single span bridge, “risk of washouts will be greatly reduced…”
The contract for the new bridge was tendered earlier this year and was awarded to Neel-Co Builders. In response to a question by Coun. Hira Chopra about local hiring, Galambos responded that Bowerman Excavating would be doing some of the work, and that a local firm is providing the concrete.
Construction of the bridge is set to start at the end of March with single lane alternating traffic starting March 31. Public notice will be posted in advance of the project.
In response to a question from Mayor John Douglas, Galambos said that the bridge will be also able to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Work will continue through the summer.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com
