The upgrade is scheduled to begin in late September and be completed sometime in the spring of 2018.
“Retrofitting the existing structures to meet current seismic standards will ensure the Trans-Canada Highway corridor is kept safe and reliable for traffic, cyclists and pedestrians,” Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Claire Trevena told the news agency.
The twin steel bridges, which are just over 252 feet long, span the Cowichan River. Both bridges, the west bridge built in 1950 and the east bridge built in 1978, require seismic and safety upgrades to bring them up to today’s standards. The work will include raising and lowering each bridge to replace the existing bearings with seismic isolation bearings.
