Residents' voices appear not to have swayed the Ministry of Transportation from its plan to demolish a historic North Okanagan bridge, once its replacement is completed. 

The single-lane, wooden Baxter Bridge on Trinity Valley Road, about 11 kilometres east of Enderby, is being replaced by a two-lane steel and concrete bridge with an expected 75-year lifespan. The new bridge is shaping up just upstream from Baxter Bridge over the Shuswap River. 

From the beginning the plan was to demolish Baxter Bridge, which underwent repairs throughout 2021 after the ministry found serious structural issues the previous year. But local residents made a push to save the bridge as a walking and cycling crossing once the new bridge is completed, citing its historical value and concerns over pedestrian safety with the new bridge, which will have widened shoulders instead of raised sidewalks. 

In an email to The Morning Star, the ministry said plans to demolish Baxter Bridge are going ahead, as leaving it up has been deemed unsafe. 

"The existing single-lane Baxter Bridge was built in 1950 and requires replacement as its structural components are deteriorating," the ministry said. "Leaving the old bridge in place would be unsafe and poses additional liability for the Ministry of Transportation and Transit."

The ministry also said maintenance costs to ensure the bridge is safe would be prohibitive, and added the new bridge has been designed to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. 

The news comes as the push to save Baxter Bridge continues to grow.

The Save the Baxter Bridge Facebook group has grown to almost 500 members. The group is teeming with activity, with some people posting letters sent to stakeholders, others sharing stories about the bridge, and some decrying a lack of representation as emails to elected officials go unanswered. 

It's unclear exactly when Baxter Bridge is set to be demolished. It is currently still in use for vehicle traffic and will be until the new bridge is finished. The ministry said the new bridge is over 50 per cent complete. The project is scheduled to wrap up in spring 2026.

In its response, the ministry did not acknowledge the push from residents to save the bridge.