RED BRIDGE – We must ‘get a bridge back up there’ says Hamer-Jackson
(Image: Mel Rothenburger)
A replacement for the Red Bridge must be built, says the mayor of Kamloops.
Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson said today (Sept. 19, 2024) a crossing at that location is essential and the community must pull together to get one rebuilt.
“It’s terrible,” he said of the fire that destroyed the bridge early today, but action must be taken quickly. “I think we can advocate for what everyone wants. I think we push forward.”
Hamer-Jackson said he was at the scene by 6 a.m. as firefighters and police tried to get control of the situation. The bridge had collapsed by then and a piece of it was floating down the river still on fire.
It’s believe the fire started around 3 a.m.
He said the City, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the provincial government will have to co-operate to come up with a plan for a new crossing. Hamer-Jackson said he’s been in touch with TteS Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir. “We’ve gotta advocate to the provincial government. Let’s get working as hard as we can to get a bridge back up there.”
Casimir agreed the bridge has to be a priority. “This loss brings many emotions, critical conversations, and new challenges,” she said.
“I’m confident in our technical teams, staff, experts, and the entire community to collaborate and overcome. We recognize the effect this will have on Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, the City of Kamloops, and our neighbouring communities. We ask that everyone keeps safety and care for others a priority throughout this period.”
Due to the risk of falling or floating debris, the City closed all boat launches, as well as Pioneer Park, Riverside Park pier, and the Rivers Trail between Pioneer Park and Riverside Park. With the loss of a significant transportation connection, motorists should expect delays as residents utilize alternate routes in and around the area.
The City also said the water supply has not been affected because the intake is upstream from the bridge so is safe from debris.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Coun. Bass likes to state frequently “how much is a human life worth”. I would pose that question back to her. Some human did this. If homeless, mentally ill, or a well-adjusted hard working arsonist, costs to the taxpayers and especially the businesses on that side and the reserve at large are going to be tremendous.
Whomever did this, and others like them who sew chaos in our communities, do not have the right to walk free in our streets. A price must be paid. Justice must be served. Order must be restored. We are prisoners in our own homes and cities. The social contract is being debased before our eyes.
Like the severed hand in Vancouver, a part of our city has been cut off from us. This is a catastrophe. Yet even after all the disorder in our streets over the last five years, this event seems surreal. This feels like finally, most reasonable people see this as a bridge too far. Something deep was fractured in the community this morning.
How much unnecessary damage, how many millions and billions are we going to spend by not making the hard but necessary decisions to restore a rules-based society that has teeth and is willing to demand consequences, and put responsible, law-abiding people for the needs and “rights” of criminals, addicts and the mentally ill.
All of this, because of one person.
So, how much is a human life worth?
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I guess the mayor forgot he is not supposed to speak to media about city business and he does not seem to know that the Red Bridge is the property of the Province, not the city.
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He’s aware the bridge is provincial; he’s saying the City, TteS and Province have to work together to plan a replacement.
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Taking cheap shots at the mayor is like shooting fish in a barrel, it’s too easy and getting tiresome. He is obviously within his realm to speak to the press, particularly in an event such as this, it’s part of his responsibility as mayor, which he still is and we ought to respect this if not for him than for the future person who occupies this position.
Having said that, I vehemently oppose the idea of putting a replacement bridge ahead of a second crossing connecting the north to south shores. Why on earth do we as citizens of Kamloops need two crossings from the south shore to another community in t’kemlups and only one to within our own city to the north shore? Why are the needs of the 4,000 t’kemlups residents more important than the 40,000 of our own residents on the north shore?
It’s a fresh wound and our first impulse is to mend the injury, but we need to sober up and realize we have far greater concerns within our borders than helping out our neighbours. It’s time to put our own needs first.
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nothing is stopping him from speaking to the media, he can, I can, you can, we all can. He, like the rest, can. He just doesn’t speak as the official spokesperson on city business.
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I think Mayor Hamer-Jackson is correct. There should have been a new bridge built across the South Thompson to “replace” the red bridge several years ago.
Think of vehicular access (by fire trucks and emergency vehicles especially) if freight trains are blocking Lorne Street and the level crossings at 2nd & 3rd Avenues. The only access to the Sandman Centre, the Sandman Hotel and the businesses along that stretch is via the 1st Avenue underpass.
Mobile home parks and businesses in the Mount Paul Industrial Park have made do with the red bridge far beyond its design parameters.
Thanks to Rosanne Casimir for her support and recognition for a rebuild.
A “Bailey bridge” is an idea worth discussing, Mayor Hamer-Jackson.
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I wouldn’t be sure sure anything will happen quickly. Look at Lytton. Merritt.
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To think Chief Casimir’s public comments come out as more appropriate when compared to the Mayor … why dont we:
1) let the fire actually cool down and address the loss people are having, and ensure everyone is safe etc, before commenting publicly of who is going to pay for a replacement.
2) Lets not pin the cost on any level of govt until that investigatory work is done.
– Its between City Property and Band Reservation land … just who holds responsibility?
– Is the Province even normally involved in a situation like this?
– is the Federal govt responsible for some or half as per their FN responsibilities?
– is the Band itself financially responsible for some or half?
– For any financial responsibility that the City has, are there avenues of assistance from senior government that can be accessed, beyond the FN part??
Although its good for these two to cordially touch base today, its way too early to ask about jumpstarting any process until staff all round has had a chance to look into it.
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NO, that’s a terrible idea! It’s tragic that the bridge has been destroyed but it is by no means a priority to rebuild, it’s certainly not nearly as important as a second crossing from the north shore to Sahali. A replacement bridge which would see hundreds of users daily is far less important than a second bridge from the north shore which would see thousands of users daily.
I really wish this mayor would think before he speaks.
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A bridge near the airport connecting to the TCH near the westward weight scale would be ideal including making it a designated heavy haul roadway. No more heavy trucks through the downtown nor the North Shore. But because it is cheaper to buy in bulk we could get a replacement bridge for the Red one which will be of course painted Ferrari red. I think that now, given the circumstances, the PAC and the rest of the “wish we had but we can’t afford” list should be discarded and bridge building becomes the new reality. Actually finding a new CAO should be the new reality.
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Gotta disagree with you on that, a bridge from the airport to the weigh scales is even a worse idea. No one lives near the weigh scales nor is there any commercial need at the weigh scales. The airport isn’t much better. A crossing from McArthur Island across to Rabbit Island (creating another city park) and connecting to the Summit connector as originally planned 40 years ago makes the most sense.
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You’re the first to lose your mind when anyone even looks at Kenna and now you want to put some giant bridge and thoroughfare through it?
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Sorry Mac but you certainly are not grabbing the intricacies of it all. Next time I see you I will explain.
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Perhaps you don’t realize just how important this crossing is and how many tripos a day cross it, and how important close access between the city core and this industrial base is. A proper bridge would allow double the usage, as no truck or oversized ort over weight vehicle could cross here as it was.
I agree that the mayor should think before speaking, but a bridge from brock to the summit corner isnt the argument that matters.
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Why in the world would you want big trucks to cross there, Lorne street isn’t big enough to have them. West on Lorne street would take them by the arena, city put in a round-about to slow traffic down in this area for a reason, it’s busy, particularly during arena events and summer afternoons and now you want semi’s going thru. Then there’s the problem of the train underpass at 1st and how many trucks need to go this direction and where to? Going east they run into another train underpass which they can’t use, period, so the only way out is connecting to the south side of the yellowhead bridge, congratulations you save the trucks 2 minutes travel time.
There’s 40,000 people on the north shore, all of them have been calling for another crossing ever since the summit connector was built, 40 yrs ago. None of them will be satisfied to wait a few more decades after the Red Bridge is rebuilt.
Lastly, a crossing from McArthur Island’s eastern slough, adjacent to Kenora Road is in North Kamloops, not Brock. Kenora leads to 12th which crosses both Tranquille and Halston. If you were from the north shore you’d know these are important arteries. And while we’re at it, we need to build the Multiplex at McIsland, so the bridge is kinda handy at this location.
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