Plans have been revealed for the Donald Bridge Construction Project.

Donald Bridge planners held an open house at the Golden Visitors Centre on Wednesday September 23. The open house provided a glimpse of the road improvements that can be expected in the future to improve safety.

The main features of the project include a new bridge and a wider four lane approach.

Project Manager for the Ministry of Transportation, Bob Corey, was on hand to discuss some of the developments.

“The project is about economic development and support for the economy of Canada, but it is also safety oriented,” said Corey.

The first improvement will be the widening of the highway to four lanes for a 3.5 km stretch. The road will incorporate a longer, gentler turn. This will allow traffic to flow safely at 100 km per hour through the area, reducing the number of accidents. The shoulders of the road will also be widened to three meters, allowing safer passage for highway bikers, explained Corey.

The improvements will also include intersection upgrades. These upgrades will feature protected left turning, which means that there will be new merging lanes created for roads connecting with the highway.

Donald Road and Dejordie Road will be merged together before they reach the highway and will have one intersection to enter the highway with protected left turning. There will also be a new merging lane exiting the weigh-in station on the west side of the bridge, said Corey.

He explained that on the north side of the river there will be a new underpass, which will allow access to the river bank where the Columbia Shuswap Regional District CSRD) is planning to place a new boat ramp.

The diagrams at the open house showed four different planned routes, moving the bridge upstream and providing a longer gentler turn.

“The old bridge and road will be dismantled,” Corey added.

In the spring, the tender process will begin and construction companies will start bidding for the project.

The project is expected to cost an approximate $63 million dollars to complete. It is funded by both federal and provincial governments, they will provide $30 million and $33 million respectively, according to information provided at the open house.

The design phase of the project will finish in 2010 and construction will begin this spring. The upgrades are expected to be completed by 2012.

The project also considers environmental concerns associated with the new roadway. The specifications of the design are required to meet the requirements of the Canada Environment Assessment Act. Also, the reclaimed portion of the old road will be rehabilitated with new vegetation.

Corinna Hoodicoff, senior biologist with the project, discussed another environmental concern to accommodate wildlife movement patterns.

“We’re planning crossing locations with enhanced habitat so that wildlife is encouraged to use them,” said Hoodicoff.

Construction on the project is expected to begin next year and finish in 2012.