UPDATE
A series of open houses have been scheduled.
Please click here for more information.
Old Spences Bridge, a single lane bridge, was constructed in 1931 and crosses the Thompson River and the CN Railroad providing a link between Highway 8 and Highway 1 in the community of Spences Bridge. In 1962, a new two lane bridge was constructed approximately 900 m downstream on Highway 1 that also provides connectivity to the Spences Bridge community.
The old bridge was load limited to 25 tonne gross vehicle weight in 2002. Routine and detailed inspections of the bridge showed that the structure is deteriorating, with steel components corroding to a point where they are rusting through. These inspections indicated an accelerated rate of deterioration and the bridge was closed to all vehicle traffic in September 2009 to ensure public safety.
Subsequent to the closure Buckland and Taylor Ltd. conducted a detailed inspection, load capacity evaluation and provided rehabilitation options, which are presented in the reports below.
Buckland & Taylor’s analysis has shown that the structure is currently suitable for 5 tonne vehicle loading and will be safe at that loading until the fall of 2011 at which time it must either be rehabilitated or closed to traffic. It is anticipated that the structure will be suitable for pedestrian-only loading for a few years afterward.
The bridge was reopened to vehicular traffic at the 5 t limit on June 5, 2010 and will be reassessed in 2011.
Community Meeting Presentations
Buckland & Taylor’s Engineering Reports
Other
Contact
Don Shaw, P.Eng.
Regional Manager, Engineering
Southern Interior Region
Phone: 250-828-4226
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