Work to repair Pouce Coupe Bridge to begin next week

DAWSON CREEK—Work to repair and improve the Pouce Coupe River Bridge, along Hwy.49, will start next week.

The current, two-lane, 60-metre bridge was damaged in November 2019, when an eastbound tractor-trailer carrying crude oil lost control, crashed and caught fire on the bridge. The project will repair any remaining damage to ensure the longevity of the structure.

The $3.6 million project will include the replacement of the fire-damaged girders and timber sheathing and improvements to the bridge itself. The removal of steel railings will take place as well as the installing of concrete parapets, widening the deck edges and enhancing the drainage.

The bridge, built in 1972, typically sees more than 2,800 vehicles a day in the summer and is approximately nine kilometres east of Dawson Creek.