WORK IS underway to replace a bridge on the highway into Stewart heavily damaged during heavy rains and subsequent flooding in the fall of 2011.
The new Bitter Creek bridge will replace a temporary one put in place after the old bridge was all but put out of commission in early September 2011 after heavy rains dramatically raised creek and river levels in the area.
Sections of Hwy37A into Stewart were washed away or flooded out and there was damage to bridges and roads within the community itself.
The new Bitter Creek Bridge is being constructed by Belvedere Place Contracting Ltd. and is on schedule to be completed this fall.
“The new structure will be constructed to current standards and will have the ability to sustain a 1-in-200 year flood event,” states the transportation ministry.
Belvedere had the winning bid with a submission to construct the new bridge, the approaches and related roadwork.
There was also sealcoating work done between the Bitter Creek Bridge and Stewart.
That contract, part of a routine maintenance program, was worth $700,000 and went to White Bear Contracting.
The rain and subsequent flooding in Sept. 2011 cut off Stewart from the rest of the province and also affected travel north of the Meziadin Junction and in the Nass Valley.
In addition to residents, tourists were stranded in Stewart for several days.
A group of tourists was eventually flown out.
Until a temporary bridge was installed at Bitter Creek, equipment and supplies were brought in by barge to Stewart.