Alex Cooper/Revelstoke Review
The B.C. government announced $38 million in funding to replace the North Fork and twin 3.8 kilometres of highway about 40 kilometres west of Revelstoke.
The project will see the two-lane bridge replaced by a modern four-lane structure, and the highway twinned both east and west of the span.
The North Fork Bridge was built over the Perry River in 1958. Much like the Malakwa Bridge, the replacement of which is nearing completion, it is a narrow, two-lane bridge with no shoulders and is reaching the end of its lifespan.
“The North Fork bridge needs replacing to ensure the reliability of the Trans-Canada Highway, as well as to improve safety and provide more capacity,” said BC Transportation Minister Todd Stone in a news release.
The highway will be widened to four lanes, with 2.5-metre wide paved shoulder, and divided with a median barrier. New frontage roads will also be built.
Construction is expected to start this summer and be finished by the fall of 2018.
Funding for the project is being split between the federal and provincial governments. The province is contributing about $25 million, while Ottawa is paying for the rest.
The B.C. government also announced $6.3 million in funding to re-surface 60 kilometres of Highway 23 North from Revelstoke to Downie Creek.
The announcements come as Stone meets with Revelstoke council to discuss funding for the community’s troubled highway intersection.
