B.C.’s Transportation Minister says work to permanently repair Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge is still ongoing.

Speaking on NL Newsday, Rob Fleming, says there has been some “incredible” work done on the Highway 8 corridor over the past two years.

“We’re still using some of the temporary structures and bridges that were put in place, and they’re functioning very well,” Fleming said, noting that more than seven kilometres of road was washed away by floods and mudslides in November 2021.

“There was a lot of engineering work to be done on Highway 8 and really figuring out what the future of that corridor looked like.”

Fleming says the ministry is working with what’s called the Cooks Ferry Alliance – a consortium that includes local First Nations communities – to rebuild the Highway 8 corridor.

“It involves contractors, Indigenous Nations, and trade unions that has really made sure that people have not only been able to rebuilt a resilient corridor but gain skills doing so,” Fleming said.

“It’s so that maintenance and monitoring of that corridor and how it performs in the years and decades ahead includes those largely Indigenous communities that are served by Highway 8.”

In all, there were 25 sites along Highway 8 that were completely washed out by the floods in November 2021 floods. The atmospheric river storms also rerouted some sections of the Nicola River which cut off access to residents on the Nooaitch, Shackan, and Cook’s Ferry First Nations.

The highway was reopened to all traffic last November. Should Highway 1 or Highway 5 close for any reason, the Ministry says non-local traffic is not allowed on Highway 8 as it is an active construction zone.

“We will have an update in the coming months about progress on the permanent repairs as we prepare to begin even more of the site-specific work on the full rebuild of highway,” Fleming said.

Single Lane Traffic on Highway 1 to End Soon

As for Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon, Fleming says work to remove all of the single lanes of alternating traffic that were put in place as part of temporary repairs is ongoing.

“The illustriously named Jackass Mountain, there is a lot of work being done on that,” he said. “We’ve got bridge decking going in right now. We’re going to be pouring cement this week so lots of good progress to celebrate there too.”

“At every section of the highway work is being performed, even in these winter months. We’re hoping early in the new year to have relief from the single lane alternating traffic.”

The Ministry also says work is also progressing on another bridge replacement at Nicomen, about 19 kilometres south of Spences Bridge.

A third bridge at Tank Hill is currently being designed, with construction expected to start next year.

“It is tricky, especially where we have at-grade configurations with the railways to build it back better again and to make sure that we have a better highway,” Fleming said.