Province funds $9.6+ million rebuild of Merritt bridge damaged during atmospheric river
June 26, 2023
MERRITT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Government of British Columbia has announced $9.6 million in funding to rebuild the Middlesboro Bridge in Merritt, which was heavily damaged by floodwaters during the November 2021 atmospheric river event. The reconstruction will increase the bridge’s resilience to future flooding, while also improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Middlesboro Bridge, which connects downtown Merritt to the Collettville neighbourhood along Voght Street, partially collapsed when the Coldwater River overflowed its banks. The new bridge will be built to higher standards to withstand future flooding, increasing its height by 1.5 metres and capacity to handle water flow by 65% compared to the original structure. The design includes two lanes for vehicle traffic and a dedicated lane for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs is providing $9.6 million to the City of Merritt for the project. Additional funding will come from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness’ Disaster Financial Assistance program to “build back better.” Final amounts from this program are yet to be determined.
“Merritt was severely impacted by the flooding events of November 2021,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “We know that climate change will continue to accelerate and river flooding will likely become more frequent as a result. That’s why it’s imperative that we act now to shore up important infrastructure and reduce the risk of future disasters like the one endured by the people of Merritt.”
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness is contributing additional funds (amount to be determined) from its Disaster Financial Assistance program to build back better, and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs is providing $9.6 million.
Preliminary engineering for the bridge is complete, and the procurement process is underway. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2024 and finish by early 2025.
“Economic resilience is a priority for us, and we know that investing in infrastructure is key to helping communities rebuild and thrive,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “The Middlesboro Bridge project is one more example of how were working with local governments to meet the unique needs of their communities in order to build back stronger.”
The upgraded bridge will provide safer, more accessible routes for residents, including a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist lane, addressing gaps from the original design.
“Seeing the scar of the missing Middlesboro Bridge has been a painful daily reminder of that harrowing event,” said Michael Goetz, Mayor of Merritt. “Thanks to the Province, we can repair this critical transportation link, which will ease traffic for residents and help revive our commercial corridors.”
The bridge reconstruction is one of several flood mitigation and restoration projects funded by the Province in Merritt, including dike and bank restoration along the Coldwater River, road and park repairs, water well restoration, and the construction of a new running track.
To date, the Province has provided approximately $12.2 million in Disaster Financial Assistance to the City of Merritt since the 2021 floods, which were the most expensive natural disaster in B.C.’s history. The City has also received over $3.2 million from the Province’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund for flood-mitigation planning and infrastructure projects.
In October 2022, the City of Merritt submitted an application for funding for the replacement of the Middlesboro Bridge on Voght Street. The application included conceptual engineering to provide a cost estimate to replace the bridge with a structure that would be high enough to withstand future high water events. This proposed design is only for the purpose of funding applications. With this new funding, RFPs will be issued for work on the design and construction of the new bridge.

In November 2021, the City of Merritt was impacted by an unprecedented flood caused by a combination of a severe atmospheric river and melting snow pack, raising water levels several meters in a matter of hours. The following day, the Middlesboro Bridge on Voght Street collapsed as much of the supporting lands were washed away, cutting off easy access from Collettville to downtown Merritt. While residents still have access to downtown amenities via the Houston Street Bridge and Main Street Bridge, the Middlesboro Bridge remains a vital transportation link. LEARN MORE ABOUT FLOOD REPAIR + RECOVERY.