A bridge that a Yukon minister described during a press conference this week as “dangerous” has been identified for $8.5 million worth of active transportation upgrades.
“[The Takhini River Bridge] is not only a dangerous crossing, but it’s also particularly dangerous for people who are commuting on bike or commuting or using bikes or active transportation, so the upgrades announced today will address their concerns,” Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn told the Yukon legislature’s media room on Jan. 10.
“The end result will be a bridge that is safer for active commuters and drivers alike.”
The press conference was held with four levels of government — Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN), the City of Whitehorse, the territorial government and the federal government — in attendance to announce government spending on four projects, including the bridge, in Whitehorse and Watson Lake. Mostyn attended on behalf of territorial Highways and Public Works Minister Nils Clarke.
Here’s the approximate funding breakdown: $6.4 million from the feds and $2.1 million from the territory for the Takhini River Bridge project; $3 million from the feds and $1.2 million from the city for McIntyre Drive in Whitehorse; $43,000 from the feds for Wye Lake and Signpost Forest trail work; and $1.1 million from the feds, $300,000 from the territory and $35,000 from the municipality and Liard First Nation for streetlight and crosswalk measures in Watson Lake.
“The more that we develop the supporting infrastructure, the happier and the healthier we can be,” said Yukon MP Brendan Hanley, who attended the presser in place of Sean Fraser, the federal infrastructure and housing minister.
“By tying infrastructure investments to concrete solutions to increase Canada’s housing supply, we can build the kinds of places where people can live and grow.”
A Jan. 11 email statement from communications staff in the Yukon’s Highways and Public Works department indicates the Takhini River Bridge is an essential conduit in and out of Whitehorse. Originally built in the 1950s, the statement notes the aging bridge is “structurally sound.”
The decision to spend money upgrading the bridge is informed by vehicle and traffic volumes as well as detailed information about the bridge’s condition. The bridge, which sees some of the highest levels of traffic in the territory, gets an average of 1,300 vehicles per day, which climbs to 1,600 in summer months, per the statement.
“Currently, we are in the study stage, meaning we’re looking into the options for including an active transportation route on the bridge,” reads the statement. The project design will go on throughout the next fiscal year, a public information session is being planned for summer 2024 and construction is anticipated for 2025.
A backgrounder from the feds indicates a pathway will be added to one side of the narrow two-lane bridge, which is intended to add a third lane specifically for active transportation. Three-kilometres of painted shoulder lanes approaching the bridge will also be added, per the document.
However, the statement from the territorial department states that the Yukon government isn’t set on a specific design given the project is still in the research phase.
Per the territorial department, Watson Lake will be getting two new pedestrian-activated crossing beacons on the Alaska Highway in 2024. Those will be near the Alaska and Robert Campbell highways intersection and in front of Andrea’s Hotel.
Money is also going towards improving the existing trail system around Wye Lake and making a new path through Watson Lake’s main tourist destination, the Signpost Forest.
Lastly, the City of Whitehorse is getting money to make curb extensions, concrete ramps, new sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes on the McIntyre Drive corridor, which the mayor noted as a problem spot due to speeding, poor lighting, lack of crosswalks, unsafe crossings, discontinuous sidewalks and overall deteriorating infrastructure.
“[It] wasn’t pleasant to commute through, and [it] certainly wasn’t safe,” Whitehorse Mayor Laura Cabott said at the press conference. She indicated the objective is more accessibility; better sightlines, crossings and lighting; and separated sidewalks. She added that housing construction is happening around there.
KDFN Chief Sean Smith said the changes coming to the corridor will “empower” the community, making it easier for people to choose active transportation like biking, walking or kick sledding.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
