After months of alternating traffic, the Chilcotin Bridge has now fully reopened.
The bridge work that included a resurfacing of the concrete deck and the installation of new deck joints began May 21 and was completed Aug. 31.
The cost of the upgrade was $2,470,253 up from the original contract worth $1,012,179.
The cost increase was attributed to the bridge’s sub deck which was in much worse condition than the ministry of transportation’s pre-construction assessment suggested.
With improved pricing and flexibility from the contractor, the ministry says it was able to gain efficiencies and contain the cost increases as much as possible while keeping the project on schedule.
The ministry says the repairs will ensure a maximum service life for the bridge.
The bridge, located on Highway 20 where the highway crosses the Fraser River, is 278-metres long and 7.9-metres wide and was built in 1961.