Merritt receives funding to rebuild the Middlesboro Bridge

MERRITT – After nearly two long years since the flood, the rebuild of the Middlesboro Bridge in Merritt is in the works.

Bowinn Ma, the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, joined Mayor Mike Goetz and Council today (June 26) to announce more funding and a timeline for the bridge. The Province is providing over $10 million to the City of Merritt for the reconstruction of the bridge.

“Merritt was severely impacted by the flooding events of November 2021,” said Ma. “We know that climate change will continue to accelerate and river flooding will likely become more frequent as a result. That’s why it’s imperative that we act now to shore up important infrastructure and reduce the risk of future disasters like the one endured by the people of Merritt.”

In part of the reconstruction, officials say the bridge will be built back at three times the resiliency, along with safe pathways for pedestrians and cyclists.

“The new span will be approximately 1.5 metres higher than the original structure and built to withstand a one-in-200-year flood event,” wrote the Government in the release. “It will increase the water volume by 65% compared to the original bridge and is proposed to accommodate two lanes of vehicle traffic and one lane dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists.”

Mayor Goetz said the bridge has been a constant reminder, a scar, in the City that has waited too long to be repaired.

“Recovering from a natural disaster is a long process of damage assessments, funding applications, design development and requests for proposals long before any construction can commence,” said Michael Goetz, mayor of Merritt. “While the city has been able to make a number of major repairs, seeing the scar of the missing Middlesboro Bridge has been a painful daily reminder of that harrowing event. I’d like to thank the Province for providing the funding to repair this important transportation link, which will not only ease transportation routes for our residents, but also revive our commercial corridors.”

Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2024 with a completion date of early 2025.

(Image credit: Zachary Stewart/Q101)