The Yukon government has unveiled a plan to recommence work on the Nisutlin Bay Bridge replacement project and tackle concerns regarding soil instability at the abutments of the new bridge. Earlier this year, the territory terminated contracts with the engineering and construction firms overseeing the project near Teslin. Subsequently, new engineers were engaged to devise a remediation design.
COWI North America has been granted a contract worth just under $5 million to develop the new design. Linda Benoit, the Minister of Highways and Public Works, revealed that the new plan involves constructing abutments further back and adding bridge spans between support structures at both ends. The design is still in progress, with a tender for the remaining construction work expected to be issued in the upcoming weeks.
Benoit mentioned that it is premature to pinpoint the exact issues with the initial project, which was nearing completion before being paused. She assured that more details would be disclosed as the project advances, emphasizing the current focus on moving forward to complete the bridge project. The project was heralded as the “largest capital project in Yukon history” by the territorial government in 2022. The original Alaska Highway bridge, constructed in the 1950s by the Department of National Defence, was replaced due to aging infrastructure.
Regarding the revised project cost, Benoit indicated that an updated estimate would be available once the design is finalized. Earlier this year, the estimated cost had escalated to nearly $194 million.