5th Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project

Start: Mid April 2021

End: Fall 2021

Last Updated: September 22, 2021

Project Description:

Time to give our bridge some TLC.

The 5th Street Bridge Project will preserve and extend the life of the bridge well into the future. The $6.5 million investment is being made by the City of Courtenay with support from the provincial and federal governments.

The bridge will be reduced to single lane traffic in alternating directions until November. Expect delays and detours if you drive, walk, cycle or take transit.

Plan ahead and allow extra time for daily commutes.Thank you for your patience.

July 22, 2021: Project Schedule Extended to November

New! Drive BC Cams - 17th Street Bridge

Bridge Traffic Cam - Old Island Highway

The Anderton Avenue camera is down for maintenance

5th Street Bridge Project Overview

Scope
What To Expect During Construction
Visiting Courtenay Recreation Facilities
Schedule
Budget and Funding
Project Contractor
Public Engagement
Council Reports

5th Street Bridge Project: Frequently Asked Questions

5th Street Bridge Project E-Newsletter

To stay informed, sign-up for project updates here:

5th Street Bridge Project E-Newsletter Archive

Scope

The scope for the 5th Street Rehabilitation Project includes:

Removal of the lead‐based paint
Recoating of all the steel including railings and rub rails
Steel repairs to the end of the deck beams underneath the bridge
Removal of existing overlay
Deck concrete removal and repairs
Placement of a new concrete overlay, including cathodic protection
Line painting

What to Expect During Construction

The 60-year-old 5th Street Bridge is coated in lead paint that must be removed to address the corrosion within the steel. To protect the surrounding environment, the bridge has been enclosed in scaffolding and sections will need to be wrapped for significant lengths of time during the project. Metal scaffolding is covered in heavy-duty plastic wrapping to prevent lead paint and other contaminants from entering the Courtenay River and surrounding area. The scaffolding required to safely complete the work has narrowed the vehicle travelling lanes, reducing the available lane width and height. The maximum height is 3.6 metres for the duration of the project.

Traffic

The 5th Street Bridge Project prioritizes maintaining access for all modes of transportation, including people who drive, walk, cycle, and take transit.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane during construction and brief intermittent periods of full closure may be required at times.

Leaving Downtown by Vehicle

Access the 5th Street Bridge by travelling north on Cliffe Avenue, then turning right at 3rd Street to the laneway below the Native Sons Hall, to 1st Street, then right on Anderton Avenue. This detour will provide a waiting area for vehicles crossing the bridge. Consider turning left on Anderton Avenue at 1st Street to the Condensory Bridge. Eastbound vehicles will not be able to access the bridge from 5th Street.

Reduced Overhead Clearance

Scaffolding now covers the entire bridge. Clearance has been reduced to 3.6 metres. All over height vehicles MUST detour via alternate routes.

Priority Lanes

Existing lanes on the east and west sides of the bridge have been adjusted to create dedicated priority vehicle lanes. The following vehicles are permitted in the priority lanes:

Transit and School Buses
Emergency Services

Ambulance
RCMP
Fire Department (including fire department volunteers heading to the fire hall in their personal vehicles when responding to an emergency incident)

Taxis
Cyclists may also use the priority lanes and ride across the bridge deck

Pedestrian Corridor on the Bridge Deck

Pedestrian access across the 5th Street Bridge has shifted from the current bridge sidewalk to a dedicated pedestrian corridor on the south side of the bridge deck. This will remain in place for several months.

Cyclists may dismount and walk their bikes down this new pedestrian corridor or may choose to follow the detour route in the priority vehicle lane and ride across the bridge.

Bridge Underpasses Closed

Underpasses at both ends of the 5th Street Bridge are now closed.

Park and Rides

Need a place to park your car for the day while you take transit or use another transportation method? Park your car for FREE at the following park and ride locations, then make your way to the nearest bus stop or to your destination on foot or by bike:

721 Grant Avenue - access off 700-block Harmston or Grant avenues
Comox Valley Aquatic Centre - 377 Lerwick Road

These temporary Park and Rides will be in place for the duration of the project.

Transit

The 5^th Street Bridge Project has affected Comox Valley Regional Transit routing and schedules.

For more information, service updates and alerts in the Comox Valley Regional Transit System, please visit: bctransit.com/comox-valley

Customers are encouraged to use NextRide and the Transit App for real-time bus tracking and planning your transit journey.

Noise

In order to remove the lead-based paint and re-coat the steel structure, high pressure compressors are used. The compressors can produce a great deal of noise.

Lighting

Should work be completed during evening hours, construction lighting may be used.

Construction lay-down area

The contractor is using a large area on the east (Lewis Park) side of the bridge for storage of equipment, supplies, vehicles and a construction trailer. Public parking has been reduced.

Bridges serve an important role in our communities and require thoughtful consideration when it comes to repair and investment. The City is committed to identifying all possible ways to expedite the timeline while ensuring public safety and minimizing costs.

Visiting Courtenay Recreation Facilities

Courtenay Recreation parking areas are for registered participants only, for use while attending recreation programs. Please help keep these parking areas accessible for patrons of these facilities.

Lewis Centre & Outdoor Memorial Pool

489 Old Island Highway

Please note there is NO LEFT TURN northbound on the Old Island Highway (toward Ryan Road) at this time due to temporary traffic pattern changes in the area.

Plan your route to access the Lewis Centre from the southbound lane. Anticipate increased traffic volumes and changes to vehicle lanes on the Old Island Highway.

The LINC Youth Centre

300 Old Island Highway

Please anticipate increased traffic volumes and changes to vehicle lanes on the Old Island Highway.

Native Sons Hall

360 Cliffe Avenue

Upper Parking on Cliffe: Access off Cliffe Avenue at 4th Street.
Lower Parking below Native Sons Hall: Access either off 3rd Street or 5th Street. (Please note – 5th Street Bridge traffic will also be using the 3rd Street entrance.)

Florence Filberg Centre

411 Anderton Avenue

Upper Filberg Parking Lot: Access either off 3rd Street or 5th Street. (Please note – 5th Street Bridge traffic will also be using the 3rd Street entrance.)
Lower Filberg Parking Lot: Use the 5th Street Bridge priority vehicle lane on Anderton Avenue along with local traffic, transit, and emergency vehicles

Schedule

Bridge construction began in mid-April 2021. Work is now expected to be completed in November 2021. The timing and length of the work will be informed by seasonal weather, regulatory requirements, and minimizing impacts to the public.

Budget and Funding

The current estimate for the Fifth Street Bridge Rehabilitation project is $6.5 million.

Project Element	Rehabilitation
Outcome	A rehabilitated crossing with extended service life, with full utilization of the grant.
Construction contract	$5.4 million
Project management, traffic optimization, and contingency	$1.1 million
TOTAL	$6.5 million
Fed / Prov Grant	$1.96 million
Reserves	$0.94 million
Carry-forward from prior budget year	$0.21 million
City Borrowing Amount	$3.4 million

The City of Courtenay was successful in securing a grant of $1.96 million though the New Building Canada- Small Communities fund, which requires construction completion by March 2022. The remainder of the project costs will be funded by the City of Courtenay.

As directed by Council, the City used the Alternative Approval Process to seek approval for borrowing to help fund the project.

Project Contractor

The City of Courtenay has awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the 5th Street Bridge to Park Derochie, an industry leader in bridge rehabilitation projects, specializing in blast cleaning, coatings, and scaffolding. Learn more

Public Engagement

5th Street Bridge Colour Survey

Thank you to everyone who completed the 5th Street Bridge colour survey, which closed on January 13, 2021. Over 2,100 people participated in the survey, with over half of those in favour of recoating the bridge in “classic green” over the other proposed choices of silver and matte black. Council gave final approval on the colour choice at the March 1, 2021 Council meeting.

2019 Drop-in Open House and Survey

On November 21, 2019, the community was invited to provide feedback on the 5th Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project. An online survey provided additional opportunities for the community to weigh in on the project.

Open House Display Boards [PDF - 8 MB]

What We Heard - Phase1 Public Engagement Summary [PDF - 1 MB]