Simon Fraser Bridge Rehabilitation Project

COMPLETED - The Simon Fraser Bridge Rehabilitation Project on Highway 97 extends the life of this highway connection for people in and around Prince George.

Improvements make the structure more reliable for approximately 18,000 vehicles that cross the bridge daily. The bridge is a key link for the northern supply chain, including movement of commercial goods into and out of the North. and will better support the transportation, forestry, mining and oil and gas sectors.

The original Simon Fraser Bridge was built in 1963 and is still the main north/south route through Prince George. In 2009, the bridge was “twinned,” with the completion of an adjacent northbound two-lane bridge, which brought crossing to four-lane capacity. The rehabilitation project improved the older bridge.

Project cost

The total project budget for this work was $20.5 million and was completed by Ruskin Construction Ltd., based in Prince George.

Status

The rehabilitation project was completed and the bridge fully reopened in December 2023. 

Project benefits

Upgrades to the Simon Fraser Bridge included:

• Full deck replacement and strengthening of the truss for the southbound bridge
• Rehabilitation of the sub-deck southbound
• Replacement of the north abutment to improve the current underpass height restrictions, allowing taller transport trucks to pass underneath on Queensway/Ferry Avenue
• Replacement of the railing with crash-tested bridge barriers on both sides of the bridge for improved safety
• Adjustments to the deck configuration to increase the width of the traveling lanes and wider shoulders
• Extended the life of the bridge 
• Improved driveability