BC Gov News release: Evacuation contingency protocols in place for Highway 99 Soo River Bridge

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit issued a release on July 25, 2026 regarding their planned work on the Soo River Bridge and their contingency plans to support any evacuations that might have to take place while construction continues at the Soo River Bridge on Highway 99 about 11kms south of Pemberton. Miller Capilano Highway Services will be carrying out bridge work requiring 24/7 single-lane alternating traffic for approximately 40 days starting on July 20, 2026. Traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic signals operating on a timer, with cycle lengths adjusted based on traffic volumes.

Evacuation contingency protocols in place for Highway 99 Soo River Bridge construction site

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit is working closely with the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, the Village of Pemberton, Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and BC Wildfire Services in support of the ongoing wildfire situation in the region.

The ministry also has an active construction project on Highway 99 at the Soo River Bridge, about 11 kilometres south of Pemberton, replacing aging bridge joints. For safety, traffic through the site is reduced to single-lane-alternating traffic. Portable traffic signals on site are timed to alternate traffic flow in each direction, manage queue lengths, and maintain traffic movement.

If an evacuation order occurs, the contractor is prepared to deactivate the portable traffic signals and deploy traffic-control personnel to manually direct traffic through the construction zone to allow traffic management decisions to be made in real time, based on traffic volumes, queue lengths and emergency response priorities.

Contingency plans are also in place if changing wildfire conditions require increased traffic lane capacity to support evacuations. During implementation, traffic would be manually directed through the construction zone while additional lane capacity is restored.

The ministry will remain in close communication with the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, the Village of Pemberton, Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and BC Wildfire Services in support of the ongoing wildfire situation in the region.

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