Sicamous council is calling for immediate action in replacing the deteriorating Bruhn Bridge.
After years of ongoing delays on the project, the government announced another in a letter to council stating that it wouldn’t go out to tender until early 2024.
Mayor Colleen Anderson, however, finds that unacceptable. “This has already been on our plate since 2014, and the bridge is now a safety issue. It is rebar and concrete falling off the bottom,” she said at the Nov. 22 council meeting.
“It’s our major transport route through Canada. It’s not the Bruhn Bridge, it’s the Trans-Canada Highway.”
Pointing out that the project is already funded and ready to go, Anderson wants a letter sent to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) asking that they send it to tender now.
Council unanimously agreed with the necessity of moving forward on the bridge replacement now, and the higher government’s responsibility in doing so.
“I think this is becoming a provincial disgrace. If it’s not a national disgrace, it’s pretty damn close to it,” Coun. Ian Baillie said, adding it’s gone beyond being able to be pushed off.
“What we do know is that people are going to die on that bridge. This is not a joke. It’s almost, in my opinion, gross negligence now to keep putting it off.”
Anderson recognized that this most recent delay could be in part because the consultation with Splatsin has been paused as they currently don’t have quorum, and don’t have a chief. She suggested, however, that due to the importance of the project, they move forward now and resume conversations with Splatsin once the new council is in place.
Supportive of the project going to tender now, council unanimously passed a motion to have staff draft a letter to the MoTI, with copies also going to other relevant agencies such as Transport Canada and the Navigation Protection Program in charge of navigable waters, as well as MLA Greg Kyllo and MP Mel Arnold.
Staff will bring the letter to council for final approval before being sent off.
Read more: No injuries reported in truck fire near Sicamous
Read more: Local governments to press for improvements at Salmon Arm hospital