Editor’s note: This letter received by the Clearwater Times addressed to Justin Finley, operations manager with Argo Road Maintenance was forwarded to the District of Clearwater, the local TNRD Area ‘A’ director, Usoff Tsao and the Kamloops division of the Ministry of Transportation and Highways from a local resident of Dunn Lake, Corey Dixon expressing her concerns about the upcoming ten day ‘Blue Bridge’ closure over the North Thompson River. The reply from operations manager of Argo Road Maintenance, Justin Finely follows.
Dear Argo:
I am one of the many residents who will be impacted by the complete shut down of the Clearwater Station Bridge (Blue Bridge).
1. I am curious to know if Argo or the MOTI or District of Clearwater will be providing some means of transportation on the Clearwater side of the bridge? I am unclear as to how we will be able to get to our respective jobs without our vehicles or a taxi service in town. For me it would be a two hour and 10 minute walk at 4 km/hr (if I could keep up that pace), along a forest service road and Highway 5, so that I could arrive at work at 0630 (all done before sunrise) and then again at 1800 I would have to walk back in the dark. This option is plainly not safe for a multitude of reasons.
2. Is it possible to drive a quad across the foot bridge? If that is possible, are we legally allowed to drive a quad on forest service roads, town roads and hwy 5?
3. Will the hours of the Little Fort Ferry be extended to 24 hrs for the duration of the bridge construction? They are only open, incredibly limited hours, 0700-1145 and 1300-1830. All of which is outside of my work schedule.
I do realize that there is the option for me to drive 57 min to Barriere and then 40-minute back up to my job in Blackpool. There are two issues with this: 1. The cost of fuel to make that drive twice a day versus my pay 2. The more important issue, during the daylight hours I am concerned for my safety while driving on the one way stretches of Dunn Lake road and I have been told that Windpass is even worse.
If I had been given even a tentative calendar of the construction event four months ago, I could have arranged vacation time from my job to allow for transportation issues. As could many others on Dunn Lake Road.
As there are only 21 days until the morning of the bridge shut down, this matter is incredibly time sensitive. I will be reaching out again and to more people by 0900 on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
Respectfully,
Corey Dixon, Dunn Lake Road
Reply to Corey Dixon from Argo Road Maintenance:
The bridge will be closed in both directions at 6 a.m. Oct. 8, 2024, until Oct 22, 2024
Drivers are advised to plan an alternate route.
A full closure is needed as this project entails structural repairs, which, once complete, will make the bridge safer with less maintenance required. We will also be redecking the timbers on the travel portion once the structural work is completed.
Pedestrian/ Bicycle access is still available along the bridge sidewalk.
Argo has sent a crew to machine brush through Dunn Lake Road in advance of the bridge closure to help alleviate any sightline safety issues with the expected traffic .
We will open the Little Fort ferry early at 6 a.m. and stay open late until 9 p.m. for the duration of the bridge closure to help accommodate those travelling up and down the Dunn Lake corridor .
Argo will send the grader through Dunn Lake Road and Windpass Road in advance of the closure and will spot grade as needed throughout the project until the bridge opens back up and increasing patrol frequencies .
The District of Clearwater is arranging additional transportation options for pedestrians, check with D.O.C. for details .
Justin Finley
Operations Manager
ARGO Road Maintenance (Thompson) SA15
1-250-374-6690 ( Ext. 202 )
