Permanent repairs to flood-damaged sections of the Coquihalla (Highway 5) and Highway 1 are set to begin this summer.
The contract for development and early construction work on sections of the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt has been awarded to KEA5, a joint venture between Peter Kiewit & Sons and Emil Anderson Construction.
The work to return the Coquihalla to the previous full, four-lane capacity will take place at three sites:
- Bottletop Bridges, 50 kilometres south of Merritt;
- Juliet Bridges, three kilometres south of Bottletop; and
- Jessica Bridges, 48 kilometres south of Juliet.
Work is expected to be substantially complete this winter. All efforts will be made to minimize traffic disruptions during peak travel hours, and crews will work overnight when possible.
“This marks a significant milestone in our recovery from the devastating atmospheric river events of last fall,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “Following the extraordinary work that was done to reconnect these highways in December, we’re building back permanent infrastructure that will be equipped to better withstand the impacts of climate change and future extreme weather events. I want to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who have worked together to help us recover from the unprecedented floods, including the local First Nation communities that continue to work closely with us as we move into this next phase of recovery.”
The project will be completed through a collaborative construction model where the owner and contractor work together to complete the design and construction of the project, including sharing risks and incentives.
The ministry has also issued a request for proposals (RFP) for damaged sections along Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon. The RFP process invites select contractors who qualified through the Highway Reinstatement Program request for qualifications (RFQ) process to take part in the competitive selection process to design and construct the permanent repairs needed at:
- Falls Creek Bridge, 55 kilometres south of Spences Bridge;
- Tank Hill Crossing, 23 kilometres south of Spences Bridge; and
- Nicomen River Bridge, 19 kilometres south of Spences Bridge.
The RFP for the repair project will close Sept. 14, 2022, with the contract awarded shortly after.
