Highway 95 Kicking Horse River Bridges 1 & 2 Project

Built in 1952, current Highway 95 Kicking Horse River Bridges 1 & 2 are nearing the end of their service life.

The bridges link the north and south sides of the Town of Golden, including a small stretch of road on Gould’s Island. They provide access to:

• Businesses and services
• Commercial and industrial developments
• Employment
• Tourist attractions
• Emergency services
• Highway 1 and 3
• Several communities along Highway 95 between Golden and Cranbrook

The average daily traffic volumes are approximately 13,000 vehicles per day.

Project cost

Total $89.6 million with $60.9 million from Government of B.C. and $28.7 million from the Government of Canada.

Status

• $45 million contract awarded to Copcan Civil Limited Partnership.
• Construction started in spring 2024
• Modifications to structural components are underway to ensure they meet rigorous quality specifications
• We are currently waiting on the delivery of several key structural components needed to proceed with the next construction phase
• A large crane had been positioned on Gould’s Island to lift major components like the arch ribs, which are the main curved structural elements of the arch bridge
• In spring 2025, the side channel access for the crane, including the base for the heavy lifts, had to be temporarily removed due to high spring runoff and regulatory requirements
• The crane will be moved 20 metres back to where the access used to be to ensure that the arch can be lifted safely
• It is expected that the waters will recede in mid-July 2025 allowing the access to be rebuilt
• Construction will resume once once access is restored
• Despite these temporary issues, the project is still on schedule for completion in fall 2026

Project benefits

The new bridges will:

• Lower the risk of damage and potential loss of crucial connections due to extreme high water or ice jams
• Preserve access to essential goods and services for local communities
• Include multi-use paths
• Enhance active transportation options
• Integrate with the municipal network

Public consultation

June 23 to July 15, 2022

The community provided feedback on the proposed design.

• Read the Open House Display Boards (PDF, 21MB)
• Engagement Summary (PDF, 4 MB)

October 5 to 21, 2016

The community provided feedback about two proposed alignment options.