The province is reconsidering how traffic will be rerouted during the Hartley Creek Bridge Replacement Project on Highway 3, about six kilometres east of Fernie.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has moved away from its planned Dicken Road detour and is evaluating an alternative approach to managing traffic during construction.
Regional District of East Kootenay Electoral Area A Director Thomas McDonald said the change follows months of concerns from residents about safety, traffic volumes and the impact on the residential neighbourhood.
McDonald commended residents and a concerned citizens group for their efforts to persuade the ministry to consider an alternative.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the community’s concerns have been heard and are being taken into consideration,” says Director McDonald. “While I have been advocating with the Ministry and other Provincial officials since March, it is the residents who have been so passionate and clear about the significant safety and traffic concerns with the Dicken Road detour who deserve all the credit for making a new alternate route a potential reality.”
The province announced an on-highway detour is now being studied as a possible option, but no final decision has been made. This option could cause construction delays and extend the project timeline.
McDonald said he appreciates the Ministry for listening to the concerns of residents, and creating an alternate solution.
“I want to thank the Ministry, their project team and the consultants for recognizing the real concerns of residents in and around Dicken Road and for being willing to evaluate another option while still proceeding with this much-needed project,” said McDonald.
The province expects to confirm the detour plan in the coming weeks, and will provide more information when a decision is finalized.
The Hartley Creek Bridge Replacement Project will replace the existing Highway 3 culvert with a bridge to provide a more reliable, resilient and safe highway crossing.
The existing crossing has experienced sedimentation and debris issues that have required emergency responses in recent years.
The project has been postponed until 2027, with detour preparation previously planned for fall 2026 and bridge construction expected to begin in spring 2027.
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