New Nisutlin Bay Bridge Coming to Teslin

Wednesday, 1 May 2019 13:05

The current bridge (photo courtesy of Structurae)

Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn says the Yukon Government has signed a project charter with the Teslin Tlingit Council to construct a new Nisutlin Bay Bridge around Teslin.

Mostyn says a tender for the project will be given out in 2020, with the project expecting to be completed in 2023.

Mostyn says the the bridge replacement was necessary given it was at the end of its life cycle.

"The bridge is nearing the end of its life cycle. The shared goal of the Yukon Government and the Teslin Tlingit Council is clear - a more safe, reliable and sustainable structure that can accommodate increases in traffic. (The bridge) will also create a safer passage for pedestrians and cyclists. The recently signed charges forges a partnership of how we can best achieve that goal."

While the project will cost well north of 25 million, Mostyn says on top of working collaboratively with the Teslin Tlingit Council, he says the bridge will have numerous positive economic impacts.

"We will maximize economic benefits for the local community and entire territory through job creation and local projects... We will provide capacity building for the Teslin Tlingit Council so it can deliver large, complex projects in the future. Finally, we will develop a process for delivering the bridge that becomes a model for other major capital projects in the territory."

NDP leader says while its encouraging to see the project go ahead, construction should have started years ago.

"The projected finalization date puts this ten years after the initial project was proposed. In his statement, the minister made reference to the fact hat this bridge project will be a model going forward for a collaborative, procurement process. This statement seemed to be alluding to the announced Northern Experience and First Nation Participation. That language was pulled directly from the government website, and it was really quite vague and subjective."

The Nisutlin Bay Bridge was initially built in 1953 by the Department of National Defence.

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