As the spring session in the legislature wrapped up Thursday, B.C. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth acknowledged the importance of the Taylor Bridge, while facing renewed pressure from the Opposition on its future.
The bridge, built in 1960, is a key transportation corridor linking the Peace Region with the rest of the province. Roughly 7,500 vehicles cross it daily, with commercial traffic making up about 30 per cent of those crossings.
Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld pressed the minister this week, questioning the bridge’s original design life, replacement timeline, and what mitigation measures would be in place if the structure became inaccessible.
Farnworth said bridges built around 1960 typically have a 50-year life expectancy, but noted ongoing investment can extend their lifespan.
The said the province is seriously considering adding the Taylor Bridge replacement to its 10-year capital plan.
Farnworth also acknowledged Neufeld’s ongoing advocacy for the project in the legislature, saying he appreciates the MLA’s questioning and work on the file.
The minister said Neufeld’s pressure helps reinforce his own efforts to move the project forward, calling the Taylor Bridge “a crucial piece of infrastructure” for both the northeast and the province as a whole.
Farnworth added, “I attach a great deal of importance to this project.”
On top of the $31 million already invested, another $9 million is committed over the next two years to help move the project forward.
This year’s work includes additional property acquisition, archaeological investigations, soil characterization testing, particularly important due to unstable soils on the north slope, and continued rehabilitation of key structural elements on the existing bridge.
