TAYLOR, B.C. - Drivers travelling between Dawson Creek and Fort St. John are being advised to plan for delays as a month-long maintenance program is set to begin on the Taylor Bridge next week.
According to Dawson Road Maintenance, the company’s fall seasonal maintenance program will run from October 5 to October 30, with work taking place Monday through Friday between 7 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. each night.
During those hours, traffic will be reduced to single-lane alternating flow, guided by a pilot car. Motorists are being told to expect delays while maintenance crews work on the structure
Oversized and overweight loads wider than 3.85 metres (12.6 feet) will not be permitted to cross during the overnight work window and will be required to wait until after 3:30 a.m. Operators are being encouraged to adjust schedules to avoid lengthy delays.
The Taylor Bridge remains a vital transportation link in northeastern British Columbia, carrying approximately 7,500 vehicles a day across the Peace River on Highway 97 between Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.
Built in 1960, the bridge has been the focus of ongoing maintenance and repair work as the province studies long-term options for the aging structure.
The latest maintenance project follows a similar spring program that took place earlier this year and comes amid continued debate over the bridge’s future.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has previously acknowledged the span is nearing the end of its service life and is examining options that include either major rehabilitation or a full replacement.
Industry groups, local leaders and residents have increasingly called for a long-term solution, arguing repeated repairs can lead to traffic disruptions and uncertainty for a key transportation corridor serving the Peace Region.
Dawson Road Maintenance says stakeholders will be notified if the schedule changes and motorists are encouraged to check DriveBC for the latest traffic information.