The Proprietor Review

A heavy dump truck parked several nights, overnight, next to the BC hydro quick charging station, Voght Street and Merritt avenue, Merritt BC. Merritt is a small community and one of the members of the Thompson Nicola regional district government.

TNRD and City of Merritt Trends

Construction and heavy infrastructure work in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) and the City of Merritt are currently driven by two primary forces: recovery from the 2021 atmospheric river and long-term climate resiliency planning.While residential “spec” home construction has slowed due to market pressures, public infrastructure spending remains at historic levels.🏗️

Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD)

The TNRD’s construction landscape is currently dominated by large-scale utility and healthcare projects. * 2025 Capital Plan: The district has allocated $24.99 million for capital project costs in 2025. * Key Projects: * Pritchard Water & Wastewater: Significant upgrades to the community water and sewer systems.

* Healthcare Expansion:

The Thompson Regional Hospital District (TRHD) is preparing for the Kamloops Cancer Centre construction, with a 2025 tax requisition of $18.1 million specifically earmarked for RIH enhancements. * Emergency Services: Construction of a new Monte Creek Firehall and several fire rescue vehicle garages (Blackpool, Little Fort).

* Waste Management:

Construction and demolition waste accounts for 24% of the TNRD waste stream, leading to new 2025 initiatives (C&D Toolkit) to help builders manage costs through better sorting of wood, metal, and concrete.🛣️ City of Merritt:

Heavy & Road Construction

Merritt’s focus is almost entirely on “heavy construction”—specifically flood mitigation and road reinstatement. The city plans to invest up to $48.7 million in capital projects over the next five years.Major Infrastructure Projects (2025–2026)

* Claybanks Dike Project:

A massive flood defense initiative. Construction is set to begin in July 2025 and run through December 2025. * Highway 8 Rebuild: Permanent repairs on the highway between Merritt and Spences Bridge are ongoing. Staggered construction on sites 1–8 and 20–22 began in late 2024/early 2025, with completion slated for Winter 2027.

* Utility Corridors:

The East Merritt Utility Corridor is a major multi-year project with over $2.5 million in projected spending for 2025–2026.Roadwork & Overlays| Project | Estimated Cost | Timing ||—|—|—|| Airport Road Overlay | $600,000 | 2025/2026 || Houston Overlay (Bridge to Midday Valley) | $500,000 | 2025/2026 || River Ranch Rd (Mill & Inlay) | $365,000 | 2027 || Crawford Ave & Airport Rd Intersection | Active Maintenance | Late 2025

|🏠 Residential & Commercial Trends

In contrast to the heavy infrastructure boom, private residential construction has seen a shift: * Shift to Multi-Family: In the broader region, single-family home starts have dropped because “spec homes” at the $1.1 million price point are struggling to find buyers. Multi-family units and secondary suites (mortgage helpers) are now the primary drivers of residential permits.

* DCC Changes:

The City of Merritt is updating its Development Cost Charges

(DCCs) for 2026. This will shift more of the infrastructure cost burden onto developers to ensure growth-related water and road upgrades are funded.Would you like me to look up specific tender opportunities or contact details for the engineering departments in Merritt or the TNRD?