Two aging bridges that have carried traffic over the Kicking Horse River in Golden, B.C., for more than seven decades are being replaced with modern spans designed to withstand extreme weather and future climate challenges.

The crossings, along Highway 95, link the north and south sides of the Town of Golden and provide access to Gould’s Island. The existing bridges are just a short distance from each other.

The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says the structures are nearing the end of their service life.

The approved budget for the work is $89.6 million, including $60.1 million in provincial funding and $28.7 million from the Government of Canada.

“The replacement bridges will be wider and higher, making them more resilient to extreme conditions than the existing crossings,” the ministry said in a statement prepared for the Journal of Commerce.

Modern engineering and materials will also improve the durability and reduce maintenance needs in the future.

Beyond extending the lifespan of the crossings, the ministry said the project will “lower the risk of damage and potential loss of crucial connections due to extreme high water or ice jams,” while preserving access to essential goods and services and integrating with Golden’s municipal transportation network.

The existing Kicking Horse River Bridge 1 experiences frequent ice build up during the winter. When temperatures warm, ice can release, move downstream and back up under the bridge.

This past winter and others, ice jams have caused bridge closures and significant impacts to the community.

Kicking Horse River Bridge 2 is less susceptible to ice jams as it crosses the side channel, which is more protected from Gould’s Island.

The structures have been deemed safe for users, but rehabilitation and replacement work is required due to the condition of foundations, structural components and concrete abutments.

The project is being delivered by Copcan Civil Limited Partnership, which was awarded a $45.3-million contract in February 2024. Construction began the following month and is scheduled to take more than two years.

The ministry said the crossings “maintain a crucial link for approximately 13,000 vehicles daily,” connecting residents and visitors to businesses, employment, emergency services, tourist attractions, and Highways 1 and 3, as well as several communities between Golden and Cranbrook.

Bridge 1 is being built upstream from the existing crossings.

The bridge will connect with the realigned Highway 95 and will include multi-use paths to enhance existing active transportation options.

The upstream location of the bridge will minimize property and local business impacts. It also results in a more linear highway alignment.

Traffic will continue to use the old crossings until construction is complete, after which the original bridges will be demolished.

By building the new bridge offline, there are also less overall traffic and community disruptions at the time of construction.

The new bridge will be higher over Kicking Horse River and additional riverbank protection such as rip rap will help to mitigate erosion. A new storm drainage system will be installed to handle runoff from variable weather events.

According to the ministry, work completed to date at the site includes underground civil works, pile installation and the construction of piers and abutments.

There is presently a variety of equipment onsite, including loaders, excavators, forklifts and a range of smaller equipment, with larger equipment being brought in as needed.

Bridge 1 will feature a network arch design, which differs from the truss design of the existing structure.

Following installation of the steel arches on Bridge 1, “top bracing between the arches and girder cable hangers are now in place,” the ministry states.

A major feature of the project was a large crane that was positioned on Gould’s Island to lift heavy structural components, including the steel arch ribs – the main curved elements that form the backbone of Bridge 1. The crane was dismantled and removed from the site in December.

The new Kicking Horse River Bridge 2 will provide access to Gould’s Island. It will be a short concrete box girder structure.

As of January 2026, activity onsite has slowed due to winter conditions.

“There is currently a small crew onsite and a limited amount of activity due to winter weather conditions,” the ministry said, noting monitoring of the site and river levels is ongoing.

Construction has faced some seasonal and environmental challenges. During spring runoff in 2025, side-channel access for the crane had to be temporarily removed due to high water levels and regulatory requirements, pausing heavy lifting until conditions improved.

Despite seasonal delays and temporary access challenges, officials say the project remains on track for completion in fall 2026.