Reconstruction work is ahead of schedule along the Highway 8 corridor from Spences Bridge to Merritt, and a major milestone was recently reached when one of two new permanent bridges opened to traffic.
November marked four years since the atmospheric river that devastated transportation infrastructure throughout the Southern Interior, and resulted in the deaths of at least five people. One of those deaths occurred along Highway 8, where a resident was swept away by flooding of the Nicola River.
Heavy rains and floodwaters washed out 25 sections of the highway, with more than seven kilometres of road completely lost. Communities and residences were cut off or isolated for months, and the highway did not reopen to the public for almost a year.
The Ministry of Transportation formed the Highway Reinstatement Program to restore temporary access and then move to permanent rebuilding of Highway 8. As of November 2025, the ministry reports that repair work along the corridor is nearly complete. All temporary gravel surfaces have been replaced with asphalt, and the three bridges that were damaged have been repaired.
Temporary one-lane bridges were constructed at sites 9 and 10 (14 to 15.3 kilometres east of Spences Bridge), and construction of two new bridges has been ongoing. On Nov. 23 the new bridge at site 10A was officially opened to traffic, and work on the second bridge — at site 10D — is advancing, with the new bridge expected to open in December 2025.
Three kilometres of new highway with a new alignment have also been constructed at sites 9 and 10. Once the second bridge opens and traffic moves to the new alignment, the temporary bridges will be removed and crews will complete the placement of more riprap to protect the new structures.
It is now anticipated that reconstruction work along Highway 8 will be finished before the anticipated completion date of September 2026. Crews are working on environmental habitat restoration projects along the corridor, to offset impacts from the highway reconstruction, and these will wrap up in spring 2026.
The final project planned for Highway 8 is asphalt resurfacing of sections of road that were damaged as a result of reconstruction activities. This project is planned for spring 2026.
The number of repair sites along the corridor, and the scale of the work, has allowed the highway to be rebuilt so that it is safer, and more resilient to extreme weather. The new alignment at sites 9 and 10 improves safe access for residents, while deeper bridge foundations (footings) mean greater structural integrity. Culverts have been upsized to increase drainage, shoulders and concrete roadside barriers have been widened, and better armoring of slopes with riprap will prevent scour and erosion.
While making the highway safe for drivers has been paramount, restoring, enhancing, and conserving the natural environment has not been overlooked. Several features have been designed to help fish and other wildlife in the Nicola Valley, including the creation of in-stream rock clusters (groynes), the placing of large woody debris beside or in the river, creating side channel habitats, and installing wildlife crossing tunnels.
Drivers can expect periods of single-lane alternating traffic while the work along Highway 8 is completed. Check www.drivebc.ca for up-to-date information on traffic impacts and delays.