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, which serves as prime contractor on the project.
• Construction started in spring 2024, with limited activity during spring 2025 due to high spring runoff and regulatory requirements. 
• On-site activity at the project site resumed in August 2025, in preparation of the next construction phase. 
• In recent weeks, water levels have dropped and allowed for crews to rebuild the side channel access. With access re-established, the on-site crane will be positioned on Gould’s Island to lift major structural components of the arch bridge.
• During the week of August 11, critical structural components arrived on site, including the remaining arch rib pieces and steel cables. The rest of the structural steel components are anticipated to arrive in late August.
• In the weeks that follow, the contractor will prepare to resume erecting the bridge. This will be a visible sign of construction progress as the structure begins to take shape.
• To ensure that materials and components meet the ministry’s rigorous quality specifications, minor coating and welding repairs to select structural components will also continue in the coming weeks.
• Despite the delays experienced to date, 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.