Baptiste River Bridge Replacement on O'Chiese First Nation Reserve

Official title: O'Chiese First Nation (OCFN) - Baptiste River Bridge Replacement

Closed Environmental Assessment Indigenous & Northern Transportation
The O'Chiese First Nation wants to replace an aging bridge over the Baptiste River on their reserve near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. The new bridge would handle 100-year floods and include about 1 km of road improvements. This is the community's main access route for emergency services and daily travel.

Why This Matters

This project matters most to O'Chiese First Nation members who depend on this bridge daily. It's their lifeline to Rocky Mountain House for groceries, medical appointments, and emergencies. If you live nearby or care about Indigenous infrastructure, this affects how the community connects to essential services.

What Could Change

If approved, construction would include a new clear-span bridge designed for major floods, plus road realignment on both sides. Work in the Baptiste River requires federal environmental review under the Impact Assessment Act. The project aims to improve emergency response times and open economic opportunities for the Nation.

Key Issues

  • What are the environmental impacts of construction in the Baptiste River?
  • How will the project improve flood resilience and emergency access?

Indigenous Consultation

This consultation requires engagement with Indigenous communities under the Crown's duty to consult.