Work on the replacement of Golden’s two Kicking Horse River bridges is continuing, but the project is now expected to be completed in 2027, later than the fall 2026 completion date originally anticipated.
The $89.6-million Highway 95 Kicking Horse River Bridges 1 & 2 Project will replace the two aging structures carrying Highway 95 across the Kicking Horse River through Golden.
According to the Province’s latest project update, recent work has included prefabrication of formwork and the wingwall structure, while crews continue to monitor the construction site and river levels.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit says it is also continuing to work with the contractor to ensure materials and project components meet provincial specifications and quality standards.
The government’s project page, last updated in February, now lists completion as expected sometime in 2027.
That represents a change from the schedule announced when construction began. In March 2024, the Province said work would begin that spring and was expected to be finished by fall 2026. A $45-million construction contract was awarded to Copcan Civil Limited Partnership.
A critical connection through Golden
The bridges may be relatively short structures, but they carry one of Golden’s most important transportation links.
Built in 1952, Bridges 1 and 2 are nearing the end of their service lives and provide the only practical vehicle connection between the north and south sides of Golden.
Highway 95 crosses the Kicking Horse River via two separate bridges, including a short section across Gould’s Island. Approximately 13,000 vehicles use the bridges each day.
The route connects residents to businesses, employment, emergency services and other community services, while also providing an important regional link between the Trans-Canada Highway and communities south of Golden along Highway 95.
The highway eventually connects Highway 1 with Highway 3 and routes toward the U.S. border, as well as Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park.
The existing bridges have also presented challenges during periods of high water and ice buildup. The new structures are being built higher and wider, with the aim of reducing the risk of bridge damage or closures caused by flooding, extreme high water and ice jams.
Project cost approaches $90 million
The total project cost is currently listed at $89.6 million, with the Province contributing $60.9 million and the federal government contributing $28.7 million.
Federal funding is being provided through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, which supports infrastructure intended to better withstand natural hazards and the effects of climate change.
Federal project records list a contribution of approximately $28.77 million toward the Golden Bridge replacements.
When funding for the project was announced in 2023, governments highlighted flooding, debris flows and ice jams as risks the new bridges are intended to address.
Changes for pedestrians and cyclists too
The project is not simply a like-for-like replacement.
The new bridges will include multi-use pathways, creating improved connections for pedestrians and cyclists and tying into Golden’s existing active transportation network. The redesigned approaches are also intended to improve safety and reliability along the Highway 95 corridor.
Construction reached a highly visible stage in 2025 when structural steel began arriving at the site. A large crane was assembled in March of that year to begin erecting the bridge superstructures, while bridge approaches and concrete substructure work were also underway.
Traffic controls, including a 30 km/h construction-zone speed limit and intermittent restrictions around 11th Avenue South, accompanied the work.
For Golden residents, the bridge replacement has been a long time coming. Provincial planning for the future of the structures dates back at least a decade, with an initial public open house held in 2016 and another round of community consultation taking place in 2022.
Once complete, the new bridges are expected to provide a more resilient Highway 95 connection while changing the look and function of one of Golden’s busiest transportation corridors.
Construction and traffic information for the project is available through the Province and DriveBC.
