Street, bridge work near starting gate

NEWS/ CITY — The busiest parts of Kamloops will be busier still when two major projects get underway this summer — the massive Overlanders Bridge overhaul and the Columbia Street widening project are approaching the starting gates.

Lowest qualified bid for the bridge revamp — $9,262,537.10 — was submitted by Innovative Civil Constructors, a firm with offices in Alberta and Ontario. Management contingencies and other costs will bring the total to $10,375,000.

The deadline for public opposition to borrowing for the Columbia Street project came and went last week with only 15 electors coming out against it in the alternative approval process, also known as a counter petition. At least 6,841, or 10 per cent of the electorate, would have had to oppose borrowing $2.09 million to stop it. The total project is budgeted at $3.8 million.

The Columbia Street project will include widening and enhancement of the roadway, new raised centre median, sidewalks, signals, bus pullouts and closure of the left-turn access to Second Avenue going down the hill. Construction will start in summer.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Royal Inland Hospital’s clinical services building.

The bridge rehab started as an overdue resurfacing, but grew like Topsy when a study showed the original raised sidewalk was in bad shape. Then, approaches to the bridge were found to be in need of re-doing as well.

The bridge was built in 1961 and the deck replaced 25 years ago. The 42,000 vehicles crossing it each day will have to use two lanes instead of four. The work will take seven months and lineups are expected.

The Innovative Constructors bid will go to City council for approval on Tuesday.