The Taylor Bridge, located along Highway 97, connects the North and South peace regions to the rest of BC.
The bridge was built in 1960, three years after the Peace River Bridge collapsed.
Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld said replacing the two-lane bridge should be a priority for the province.
“With an original life span of 30 years, it’s now 64 years old, and its’s not on the 10-year infrastructure plan for replacement,” said Neufeld.
The province began gathering feedback on the future of the Taylor Bridge in October 2021.
Through two phases, the province engaged with Treaty 8 First Nations, key stakeholders, and the public.
Concerns were raised about the size of the current bridge and its inability to support a growing local economy. Feedback showed strong support for a four-lane bridge designed to accommodate oversized loads.
Neufeld said the bridge is the economic lifeline of the area. About 7,500 vehicles cross it everyday, 30 percent of which are commercial.
“The bridge is an important connection in the provincial and national economies, with 20 percent of the province’s over-weight and over-width traffic travelling through the Peace region,” said the province.
The Taylor bridge requires frequent maintenance, which raises safety concerns and has become costly.
“The question begs itself, at what point are we spending enough on maintenance, where we should be spending money on a replacement?” said Neufeld.
Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen said the outdated metal structure consistently requires welding work.
“As much as those contractors appreciate the work, we need reliability when it comes to transportation and being able to cross the Peace River safely,” she said.
It has been four years since the province asked for public engagement on replacing the span.
Although the Ministry of Transportation conducted geotechnical investigations around the bridge this summer, Mayor Hansen wants the process to speed up.
“They’ve already invested 30 million plus into infrastructure and planning, and now, we need to go the rest of the way,” she said.
The mayor said Premier David Eby is visiting the Peace Region next year, and replacing the bridge will be a key point of discussion.
She added that with the economic impact the Peace Region provides to the rest of BC, the province needs to start giving back.
“When you look at what is our impact economically on the province, we definitely punch above our weight,” she said.
Despite the need for a new bridge, Neufeld said it remains completely safe to use. “My understanding is that this is the most inspected bridge in northern BC from a safety perspective,” he said.
The Ministry of Transportation said Highway 97 is critical to connecting the Peace Region’s economy to the rest of Canada. It continues to explore options for the long-term future of the bridge, but no timeline has been set for when construction might begin.