MOT to fix Dutch Creek bridge

By Ian Cobb - Invermere Valley Echo - May 07, 2008

MOT Rocky Mountain District transportation manager Jack Bennetto apologized to Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) officials for taking three months to respond to a letter requesting an update on plans for the bridge, damaged and closed for passage last December when a truck driver failed to secure a construction machine he was transporting.

Following a business case analysis, completed in March, and a review of three main options, including repairing the existing bridge, replacing the bridge on its current alignment and constructing a new bridge on a revised highway alignment, the MOT has settled on a direction, Bennetto wrote.

“With an estimated cost in excess of $11 million to construct a new bridge, it is unlikely that this will proceed forward as a project.

“In the interim, plans are underway to repair the existing bridge to full legal-load capacity, permitting two-way traffic while we define and engineer a more permanent solution,” he said.

His response was not what local directors were looking for.

“Just to say an $11 million project isn’t going to happen, well maybe there are some cheaper alternatives than remaining with the status quo,” suggested Village of Canal Flats Coun. and RDEK board member Ute Juras during a regional director review of Bennetto’s letter.

Electoral Area F director Lillian Rose said she remains concerned about the temporary single-lane bridge and its approaches, noting that the busy tourism season is about to begin in the valley.

See BAND-AID on Page 6

“I would not want them to do a Band-aid cover up on the bridge,” she said, adding she is worried about more accidents occurring. A valley family lost a young member last Christmas when an impaired driver slammed into a car stopped at the light at the bridge.

Rose said she would like to hear more from MOT and the board passed a motion directing regional government administrative staff to write to Bennetto and invite MOT to a future board meeting.

Rose also noted that it could take some time before the damaged old bridge is re-opened because the MOT is “having difficulty finding an engineer” willing to sign off on the temporary repairs made to the bridge.

District of Invermere Mayor and board member Mark Shmigelsky, who initiated the motion to have MOT address the board, called the current highway situation crossing Dutch Creek, south of Fairmont Hot Springs, a “misfunction junction.

“There is a sense this (MOT solution) might be more permanent-temporary,” he said, pointing out the importance of that bridge crossing.

“It’s a major corridor in this valley,” he said.

RDEK board chair, Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor Greg Deck said he viewed Bennetto’s response differently than other valley directors.

“I was quite relived to see this letter, quite frankly,” he said, noting he was impressed with how quickly MOT erected the temporary bridge following the first accident.

It took 11 days for MOT to install the bridge that is now allowing single-lane traffic to cross Dutch Creek.

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MOT to fix Dutch Creek bridge

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