The 2nd Avenue Bridge in Prince Rupert, the only road and walkway connecting the Park Avenue and Moresby neighbourhood to the rest of the city, is closing fully for about two months starting Thursday, June 18, 2026. Crews will replace the pedestrian walkway and make structural fixes, with all traffic forced onto a single-lane detour along the CN Rail service road at the bottom of Graham Avenue and 11th/Water Street.
A 2025 inspection found serious problems with the cantilevered walkway that hangs off the side of the bridge, making this work urgent. The City of Prince Rupert awarded the $2.3-million construction contract to North Vancouver-based Surespan Construction in February. The original project budget of $2.2 million grew by $200,000 to cover design and inspections, and council approved an additional $1-million contingency for hidden rot often found in old timber bridges — bringing the total to $3.2 million.
During the closure, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians will share the service road. Timed lights at each end will let one direction through at a time, and security guards will be on site around the clock to help things run smoothly. BC Transit buses will keep running their usual weekday schedule from about 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., though riders should expect delays.
City Hall is asking anyone who cannot use the detour because of a disability or mobility issue to call (250) 627-0934 so staff can set up an alternative. Notices have already gone out to homes in the affected area. Surespan Construction, which handled the recent 6th Avenue (Hays Creek) Bridge rehabilitation, is familiar with local conditions, and the city says the work should wrap by mid-August.
Looking further ahead, the city is studying whether the aging bridge should be repaired again, upgraded, or eventually replaced. A rerouting study is in its early stages, with no decisions made yet.
