‘There is only one option’; Despite choice presented, Kamloops council steadfast on bridge replacement

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer believes the government is over-complicating the project.

“Let’s get on with it. Let’s come up with a really good plan we can all embrace, and then we can move forward,” Stamer told CFJC News. “And not just start making excuses on why we can’t build it or maybe we shouldn’t build it, or maybe we just need some highway improvements and we will be just fine, because we won’t be.”

Consultation is currently underway on the project, with Stamer advising the public to be vocal about the need.

“When they talk about waiting for comprehensive highway studies and all this kind of stuff, we’ve had almost two years. We should already know what we need for the next 20 or 30 years. We shouldn’t be guessing” added Stamer.

The BC government’s own figures suggest more than 8,000 vehicles used the Red Bridge daily, and with development on both sides of the river in full swing, that number is only expected to grow.

“The requirement is from treasury branch, no option, somewhere in the middle – or in this case, the full option,” said Karpuk. “And we were told that from the get-go. This is a formality. It’s a government process. We are following the process. They are dictating when it happens and where it happens. We would have loved to see it last year – there was no reason it couldn’t have been last year. But it’s happening now and we are jumping through the hoops that they’ve placed.”

Next week a public information session will be held on Thursday (June 11) from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Kia Lounge.

by Michael Reeve

‘There is only one option’; Despite choice presented, Kamloops council steadfast on bridge replacement

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