Red Bridge in Canada, located in Kamloops, British Columbia, spans the South Thompson River. It is a historic wooden truss bridge designed with a Howe truss, a design that has become rare in the province.
The bridge is 400 meters long and has been an integral part of local residents’ lives since its construction in 1936, weathering 88 years. It was named for its red-painted piers and red railings on the deck.
On September 17, 2024, at 6:45 AM, a sudden fire broke out on the Red Bridge, forcing its closure for 24 hours. Unfortunately, around 3 AM on September 19, a second major fire completely destroyed this historic bridge. It took the fire department three days to extinguish the blaze. Police are investigating the cause of the fire through on-site video footage and bridge remnants. They initially suspect arson and are currently gathering information from the surrounding community, including dashcam videos and eyewitness accounts.
The bridge underwent major repairs in 2004, during which engineers added four steel piers to strengthen the shore connections and replaced over twenty old wooden piles. The renovation cost 1 million Canadian dollars.
The government has now allocated 200 million Canadian dollars for the design and construction of a new bridge, with a requirement to complete the rebuilding within 48 months.