Work began on the Johnston Bridge in Quesnel this week.
This is phase one of a rehabilitation project and the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic through July and August and into early fall.
A detour is available through either Johnston subdivision or North Star Road.
Phase one work includes the installation of approximately 90 meters of water main and sanitary main under the railway track, a new fire hydrant, and some road restoration.
Phase two, which the city hopes to do next summer, will be the actual repairs to the bridge.
It has had a 10,000 kilogram weight restriction on it since October of 2018 when a bridge inspection revealed some corrosion problems on some of the main beams.
The total cost to repair the bridge and to do the utility work around it is about 11.5 million dollars.
The City received a 6 million dollar federal grant for the project.
It will use reserves (Utility and the Capital Reinvestment Reserve) to pay for the rest of the bill.
