The Ministry of Transportation and Transit, in partnership with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops, has embarked on a planning process to explore options for reconnecting Tk̓emlúps lands and Kamloops following destruction of the Red Bridge.
The vital communication link was destroyed by fire on Sept. 19, 2024. Cleanup operations — which included work in and alongside the South Thompson River — concluded in June 2025.
The planning process includes a conceptual design for a modern replacement bridge on the alignment of the original bridge. It will also include an assessment of other transportation solutions, a review of traffic and site data, and an evaluation of how potential options could affect adjacent infrastructure.
Built in 1936, the original wooden truss bridge was a load-restricted structure over the South Thompson, connecting downtown Kamloops with Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc lands on the north side of the river.
Designed and built at a time when traffic volume was much lighter, and vehicles were considerably smaller, its wood-planked lanes were only 2.7 metres wide (standard lane width today is 3.5 metres). Five rehabilitation projects were carried out on the bridge over a period of 88 years.
On Sept. 17, 2024, firefighters and police responded to a blaze at the Red Bridge, and were able to put it out. However, at about 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 19, a second fire completely destroyed the structure. Kamloops RCMP have said that the second fire was deliberately set, and might be connected with the previous one, and are treating the incident as arson. No suspects have been arrested.
Since the loss of the bridge, the ministry has been working closely with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops to manage traffic impacts. Over the past year, the ministry has taken several steps to improve safety and reduce congestion in the area. The improvements include the installation of a centre median barrier on Highway 5 between the Valleyview Interchange and East Shuswap Road, the removal of the left-turn access from Highway 5 onto River Street, and the extension of the left-turn lane onto Mount Paul Way.
The ministry, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, and the City of Kamloops remain committed to advancing the planning process as quickly as possible, with the shared goal of reconnecting these communities in a way that aligns with provincial requirements and positions the project for future funding opportunities.
The preferred options from the planning process are expected to be shared with the public in spring 2026. Updates will be available at https://gov.bc.ca/tkemlupskamloopsnetwork.
