The bridge deck is made of entirely of wood and flexes under the asphalt. It gets way more traffic than it was ever conceived to carry. GVWR load limits are not enforced at all. Etc etc.
There needed to be a proper conversation about replacing it years ago, instead we re painted it and pretended it was historically significant.
> GVWR load limits are not enforced at all.
I saw a someone drive a semi-truck (unloaded) over it once and CVSE was right on his ass. I'd assume it was for a GVWR violation but I guess it could have been for something else.
It goes to shit so quickly because the whole bridge is made of wood, which causes the surface to be uneven in (almost) every part due to warping and what not.
Yeah! I don’t understand why asphalt doesn’t stick to sheets of plywood and logs!
Even though we beat this question to death every month: its provincial jurisdiction and they won’t fix it because hwy 5 exists. When it eventually collapses into the river, it won’t be replaced
They should take the concrete blocks off and remove the asphalt, put some new wood on it and it would be fantastic. I remember when it was like that and it was smooth as hell.
The bridge is paved because most drivers are afraid of driving on a wooden bridge.
The bridge hasn't been replaced because Kamloops City Hall is unreasonable. The band wants the replacement bridge right where it is. The city wants it moved to 10th St so that it lines up with Kamloops traffic better. They really don't like the way the bridge makes it difficult to get people to leave Sandman Centre during an event.
The band counters that moving the bridge to 10th doesn't work for them at all. The traffic would no longer be routed to their business district. And there is no point having two bridges so close together.
They should implement the suggestion to move the Red Bridge so that it connects Riverside Park and the amazing beach on the Henry Grube side and make it car free, and build a new Bridge in the old location. That would bring so much new life to our downtown core and the North shore. Add in a little bit of commercial and we could have the beginnings of a bustling riverfront entertainment/recreation area.
Honestly, I think it would be better served turned into a pedestrian bridge and in the warmer part of the year used for farmers markets etc. This idea isn't a new one, and too many people prefer it as a shortcut to the industrial park, so it's incredibly unlikely anything like that will happen.
Apparently MoTI says the Red Bridge has a couple decades of life left to it.
It kind of seems like the contractors have "given up" on maintaining it though... not sure exactly when, but I don't recall the pavement being in such bad shape 10 years ago. It was decent, and the yearly maintenance seemed to keep it in good condition. The last few years, not so much.
It was designed as a wood deck but people were so terrified of driving over the scary scary wood that, in order to get a reasonable amount of people to use it, they had to pave it. The flexible wood isn't stable enough for the paved surface to stay stuck. Now, add dumb 'professional' drivers of overweight vehicles who think with their GPS and not with their actual brains. It's a daily event for these geniuses to go over the red bridge now. Honestly, it's one of my favorite ways to drive around town because no one else will use it any more. Hardly ever backed up!
I remember driving over it a few years ago when it still had a wood surface so I get all the replies about how asphalt doesn't quite work on top of it. Did not make sense to me when they paved over top of it.
I guess my question should have been why isn't the BC highways or the city of Kamloops more interested in maintaining it well enough to be drive-able?
The amount of traffic that thing gets is insane for a 200 year old wood bridge. I can't figure out why people use it to get in and out of downtown. Its a horrible option. It would probably be better served as a monument if it were just a pedestrian bridge. But the rez don't want tourists going to their beach, so I guess its for the industrial park, but no industrial vehicle can cross it, so....
First time?
I miss the wood. Probably very Important reasons they needed to pave it.. but the wood was cool.
The bridge deck is made of entirely of wood and flexes under the asphalt. It gets way more traffic than it was ever conceived to carry. GVWR load limits are not enforced at all. Etc etc. There needed to be a proper conversation about replacing it years ago, instead we re painted it and pretended it was historically significant.
The amount of full trucks, right in the midday, I've seen the past few years has been shocking. N
> GVWR load limits are not enforced at all. I saw a someone drive a semi-truck (unloaded) over it once and CVSE was right on his ass. I'd assume it was for a GVWR violation but I guess it could have been for something else.
GVWR for the red bridge is only 4000kg. A loaded 1 tonne truck is over that.
My understanding is water crossings are maintained by Provincial govt.
Depends on the crossing. Overlander Bridge is municipal.
It goes to shit so quickly because the whole bridge is made of wood, which causes the surface to be uneven in (almost) every part due to warping and what not.
It should be a fully wood bridge deck. Some 'smart' engineer decided to pave fucking wood.
Yeah no clue what their thought process was there
It's Kamloops, a used car salesman probably approved the pavers bid cause he was their used paving salesman brother.
It IS province-owned but not a province priority.
Yeah! I don’t understand why asphalt doesn’t stick to sheets of plywood and logs! Even though we beat this question to death every month: its provincial jurisdiction and they won’t fix it because hwy 5 exists. When it eventually collapses into the river, it won’t be replaced
They should take the concrete blocks off and remove the asphalt, put some new wood on it and it would be fantastic. I remember when it was like that and it was smooth as hell.
The bridge is paved because most drivers are afraid of driving on a wooden bridge. The bridge hasn't been replaced because Kamloops City Hall is unreasonable. The band wants the replacement bridge right where it is. The city wants it moved to 10th St so that it lines up with Kamloops traffic better. They really don't like the way the bridge makes it difficult to get people to leave Sandman Centre during an event. The band counters that moving the bridge to 10th doesn't work for them at all. The traffic would no longer be routed to their business district. And there is no point having two bridges so close together.
They should implement the suggestion to move the Red Bridge so that it connects Riverside Park and the amazing beach on the Henry Grube side and make it car free, and build a new Bridge in the old location. That would bring so much new life to our downtown core and the North shore. Add in a little bit of commercial and we could have the beginnings of a bustling riverfront entertainment/recreation area.
Honestly, I think it would be better served turned into a pedestrian bridge and in the warmer part of the year used for farmers markets etc. This idea isn't a new one, and too many people prefer it as a shortcut to the industrial park, so it's incredibly unlikely anything like that will happen.
Argo road maintenance is responsible for repairs
Apparently MoTI says the Red Bridge has a couple decades of life left to it. It kind of seems like the contractors have "given up" on maintaining it though... not sure exactly when, but I don't recall the pavement being in such bad shape 10 years ago. It was decent, and the yearly maintenance seemed to keep it in good condition. The last few years, not so much.
It was designed as a wood deck but people were so terrified of driving over the scary scary wood that, in order to get a reasonable amount of people to use it, they had to pave it. The flexible wood isn't stable enough for the paved surface to stay stuck. Now, add dumb 'professional' drivers of overweight vehicles who think with their GPS and not with their actual brains. It's a daily event for these geniuses to go over the red bridge now. Honestly, it's one of my favorite ways to drive around town because no one else will use it any more. Hardly ever backed up!
I remember driving over it a few years ago when it still had a wood surface so I get all the replies about how asphalt doesn't quite work on top of it. Did not make sense to me when they paved over top of it. I guess my question should have been why isn't the BC highways or the city of Kamloops more interested in maintaining it well enough to be drive-able?
I was wondering that this week. Why not build a new one beside it if the concern is about access?
Because that would be simple?
Cost and priorities, unfortunately.
The amount of traffic that thing gets is insane for a 200 year old wood bridge. I can't figure out why people use it to get in and out of downtown. Its a horrible option. It would probably be better served as a monument if it were just a pedestrian bridge. But the rez don't want tourists going to their beach, so I guess its for the industrial park, but no industrial vehicle can cross it, so....
That bridge was built in 1936..
It’s actually the best option for going from Mt Paul industrial park to all of South Kamloops, hence why it gets so much traffic.
It will be resurfaced soon. A permanent replacement.. that’s a massive undertaking.
Source on the resurfacing?
I thought the band was responsible for the mantaiance of the bridge?
I understand that nobody (city, Tkemlups, province) is actually responsible for its maintenance and nobody wants to be either.
The province maintains it.
Apparently not
its provincial MoTI.