BC Highway Reinstatement Program: Highway 5 – Category B Project

Hope to Merritt, British Columbia

In response to severe damage caused by the atmospheric river event in the southern part of the province, the BC Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure launched the BC Highway Reinstatement Program. The program’s first project, the Highway 5 – Category B Project, involved highway reconstruction and the construction of six new permanent bridges designed to withstand a 200-year return period and enhance climate change resilience. Through the Alliance contract model approach, the design team led by Kiewit Engineering Group Canada developed a design process that enabled construction to start and finish four months ahead of schedule.

The jury highlighted the immense benefits to the community and the rapid reconstruction of this critical infrastructure as key achievements of this project. The team’s "build back better" approach, and their use of local Indigenous knowledge to create longer span bridges that align with river routes were particularly notable. Despite the challenges of maintaining highway operations during the pandemic, the project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

For additional information on this project, click here.