The replacement bridge at the John Hart Dam has weakened over the years, prompting an advisory from BC Hydro.
The Brewster Bridge was originally a wooden trestle bridge that was replaced with a steel Bailey bridge to allow heavy construction equipment to cross. The steel bridge was rated at 70 tons.
However, a recent assessment dropped the weight down to just 15 tons. BC Hydro says the loss in strength is due to road decking deterioration.
Work on the bridge will start in May or June and will largely involve repairs to the decking. The road may need to be closed 24/7 during the repair work, but dates will be announced later on with updates to the temporary road closure sign.
Once repairs are done, Hydro will still recommend heavily weighted vehicles, like tandem dump trucks, to take alternate routes.
The upcoming seismic upgrade project is planned for 2023, and the road will be closed for around six years to public traffic.
