Kamloops councillors seek update on bridge replacement plans; to press Province on need for two new structures

Those concerns, Neustaeter said, were connected to issues linked to the Kamloops cancer centre. While a groundbreaking ceremony was held last month, local politicians and others have raised concerns about the lack of a PET/CT scanner — making Kamloops the only cancer centre in B.C. without that piece of technology.

“We are not making a decision between a Red Bridge and another access point,” Neustaeter added. “It’s a non-negotiable point. Kamloops is owed two bridges.”

“The fact that the province has billions of dollars of debt does not change what our community needs, and what should have already been budgeted for those critical infrastructure needs.”

There are four bridges in Kamloops – Overlanders Bridge, Halston Bridge, the Yellowhead Highway Bridge, and the Lafarge Bridge. The Overlanders and Lafarge bridges fall under city jurisdiction while the Halston and Yellowhead bridges – as well as the former Red Bridge – were all under provincial jurisdiction.

Discussions around a third city bridge have been underway for the past number of years and some councillors also want the staff update to “speak to the necessity” of this potential river crossing.

“Whether we’re talking about Rayleigh to Westsyde as a way to escape a fire or to take truck traffic off Westsyde Road or whether its the North Shore, which desperately needs another crossing,” Councillor Stephen Karpuk said.

The city’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) – which was finalized in 2018 – identified the need for a bridge crossing study, though it also estimated that the new structure wouldn’t be needed until the city’s population reached 120,000 people.

“A future Thompson River crossing for the long term is crucial, and this study should identify the preferred future crossing location to permit the City to plan for and secure this future corridor,” the plan stated.

While there was the expectation that a bridge would be build along Singh Street, those plans were taken off the books in 2018. In Dec. 2021, the city awarded a contract to McElhanney Ltd. to study potential locations for a new bridge but no details have been made public.

Karpuk suggested that the city should be more proactive in planning for a new bridge, which is expected to be located west of the Overlanders Bridge.

“In 1958, when [MLA and former B.C. Minister of Highways] Phil Gaglardi said we should build a bridge, there were only 3,600 people who lived on the North Shore,” Karpuk said.

“We are way past that point now and I think the justification of having an alternate access point which has been bantered about, perhaps down by the airport, is worthy of some further discussion within this group.”

Councillor Bill Sarai also said he was concerned that the province may only end up building one new bridge in Kamloops, even as the city’s population continues to grow.

“We were assured that we would get a second crossing, and that’s where my concern is, is that one of the pieces that you’re talking about could be construed as another crossing,” Sarai said.

In a brief statement to CFJC Today, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said it has already begun working on the Red Bridge project in collaboration with Tkemlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops.

The statement also said the Province has “not participated in any discussions regarding a new crossing that is not connected to existing ministry infrastructure.”

Neustaeter suggested that by asking staff for an update on the status of the two bridges, it would show residents that city council is continuing to advocate for the needs of the community.

“I think it’s important that the public hears where council stands on this,” she said.

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops councillors seek update on bridge replacement plans; to press Province on need for two new structures

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