A week-long closure of Baxter bridge will wrap up earlier than expected.

An inspection following repairs to the old wooden bridge east of Enderby at Ashton Creek were expected to stretch into Saturday, May 15. But on Thursday Ministry of Transportation bridge area manager Chad Marsh said work has gone smoothly and there won’t be a need for a bridge closure on Saturday.

“The inspection is going well and will be completed on Friday, May 14.”

Baxter Bridge is located one kilometre south of the junction of Enderby Mabel Lake Road and Trinity Valley Road.

Repairs to the bridge were completed in fall 2020, after the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure discovered a serious structural issue.

The ministry has made arrangements with the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District so buses will not be impacted and emergency vehicles will have access as well.

Signs will be posted at the bridge and flyers will be left in the mailbox at the north end of the bridge and at the Ashton Creek Store.

Pedestrians and cyclists will be permitted to walk across the bridge with only minor delays.

The schedule for crossing is as follows:

Tuesday, May 11 to Friday, May 14:

6:50 a.m. – 9 a.m.: no work that will impact the school buses and no waits longer than 15 minutes, vehicles will be able to cross with minor delays expected;

9 – 11 a.m.: closed;

11:00 a.m.: open at 11 only for queued traffic (traffic already lined up at the bridge will be able to cross);

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: closed;

12 – 12:30 p.m.: open to traffic – fully open to traffic for 30 minutes;

12 – 2:30 p.m.: closed;

2:30 – 4:30 p.m.: no work that will impact the school buses and no waits longer than 15 minutes, vehicles will be able to cross with minor delays expected;

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.: closed;

5:30 p.m.: open at 5:30 p.m. only for queued traffic (traffic already lined up at the bridge will be able to cross);

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.: closed;

6:30 p.m.: open at 6:30 p.m. only for queued traffic (traffic already lined up at the bridge will be able to cross);

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.: closed;

8:30 p.m.: open for the night – fully open until 6:50 a.m. the following morning;

Tentative Saturday, May 15

7 – 8 a.m.: Closed;

8 a.m.: open to queued traffic (traffic already lined up at the bridge will be able to cross);

8-9 a.m.: Closed;

9 a.m.: open to queued traffic (traffic already lined up at the bridge will be able to cross);

9-11 a.m.: Closed;

11 a.m.: open to queued traffic (traffic already lined up at the bridge will be able to cross);

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Closed;

12 – 12:30 p.m.: Open to traffic (full 30 minutes opening for all traffic);

12:30 – 3 p.m.: Closed;

3 p.m.: open to queued traffic (traffic already lined up at the bridge will be able to cross);

3 – 5 p.m.: Closed;

5 p.m.: open to queued traffic (traffic already lined up at the bridge will be able to cross);

5 – 7 p.m.: Closed;

7 p.m.: open to queued traffic (traffic already lined up at the bridge will be able to cross);

7 – 8:30 p.m.: Closed;

8:30 p.m.: open (fully open, inspection completed).

READ MORE: Baxter Bridge near Enderby reopens to all traffic

READ MORE: Bridge east of Enderby closed due to structural issues

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Vernon Morning Star