MLA Kealy demands construction deadline for new Taylor Bridge

Taylor Bridge, B.C. — The MLA for Peace River North has renewed demands within the provincial legislature to get the Taylor Bridge replaced.

MLA Jordan Kealy spoke about the bridge during a sitting of the legislative assembly on Thursday, April 10th, saying the people of the Peace region were promised a new bridge decades ago but it still has yet to be made.

“The people of my region have been promised a new bridge for over 20 years, and still we have holes in the bridge decking over and over and over,” Kealy said. “The bridge has been fixed so many times that it is probably more weld repair than original steel.”

Kealy pressured Mike Farnworth, minister of transportation,  to provide a deadline for when construction will begin on the new bridge. 

Farnworth responded by saying the government recognizes the importance of the bridge and its significance, both to the Peace region and the province’s transportation system as a whole.

He also said work is underway to create a long-term solution to the problem, and the ministry has been performing structural assessments, with more work scheduled for later this year.

“I have met with the member from Peace River South [Larry Neufeld], for example, who has also come to see me to talk about the importance of the bridge,” Farnworth said. 

“The previous MLA from Peace River North [Dan Davies] has also been working with me in the past, in terms of how this bridge needs to be replaced.”

When offered a chance to ask a follow-up question by the Speaker of the House, Kealy said the province needs to invest in major infrastructure upgrades in order to become self-sufficient.

He urged Premier David Eby to commit to using the money earned from levies, tolls and fees to pay for those infrastructure upgrades, rather than using it as “a slush fund of broken promises to British Columbians.”

Farnworth responded by saying the government is currently spending $15 billion on transportation and infrastructure across the province.

“More than $188 million has been invested [in the Peace region] since we have been in power, and $29 million has gone into ensuring that the planning work and work that needs to take place around the Taylor Bridge has been underway,” he said.

Farnworth also went on to add that more announcements regarding the Taylor Bridge will be coming later this year.

The bridge has been closed for maintenance several times this year, including earlier this month.