The southbound silver bridge on Highway 1, over the Cowichan River in Duncan, is getting new silver paint. Photo Credit: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
One or both southbound lanes on one of the silver bridges in Duncan will be regularly closed overnight on as painting begins.
Beginning Monday night, cleaning and painting will start on the southbound silver bridge over the Cowichan River from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work will continue nightly until the end of 2018.
The Ministry of Transporation and Infrastructure said during this time, one or both southbound lanes may be closed. If both lanes are closed, a detour will be set up to divert single-lane traffic to the adjacent northbound bridge.
The ministry said applying new silver paint will add many years of useful service to the structure and improve its overall appearance.
“Paint on the southbound bridge has deteriorated beyond the means of regular maintenance. Corrosion is beginning to affect the structural steelwork and, over time, may affect its strength,” the ministry wrote on its website.
“The project will follow strict environmental guidelines to protect the surrounding area. The bridge will be “shrink-wrapped” to contain debris that will be removed daily. The containment system and river environment will be carefully and systematically monitored.”
During the day, two lanes will remain open on both bridges. Pedestrians will be able to cross the Cowichan River on the northbound bridge sidewalk while the sidewalk on the southbound bridge is closed.
Drivers are reminded to obey the construction zone speed limit of 30 km/h.
The cost of the project is $4.5 million. Both the northbound and southbound bridge recently had seismic upgrades.
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