By Jackie Tegart, MLA for Fraser-Nicola
As summer gets closer, those who travel our highways will begin to see more road improvement projects throughout Fraser-Nicola.
These are all part of B.C. on the Move, our government’s 10-year plan for the improvement of our province’s transportation network.
While we generally don’t enjoy having our drive interrupted by delays for road-construction crews, B.C. is no different than anyplace else: most of this kind of work has to be done when the weather is best, and that means late spring, summer and early fall – the prime driving season.
There are several projects in our riding that are either underway, nearing construction or at the tender phase.
Of particular interest to Merritt residents is a variable speed limit system that will be installed on the Coquihalla Highway at Ottomite Bridge (Portia Interchange to the former toll plaza). The system includes message signs, road weather information system stations, web cameras, pavement condition and temperature sensors, visibility sensors and variable speed limit signage. Completion is scheduled for next winter.
Elsewhere in the riding:
Near Ashcroft, a 6.1-km section of Highway 1 from the Ashcroft four-lane to the junction of Highway 97C will be resurfaced.
A 3.2-km section of Evans Road in Ashcroft will be resurfaced, with completion scheduled for this fall.
The Walhachin Bridge re-decking project, to be completed this spring, will return the bridge to full load capacity.
North of Clinton, Highway 97 is getting another section four-laned as part of the Cariboo Connector project. Construction will continue on the 4.5-kilometre expansion to four lanes from 74 Mile to 76 Mile, which, when completed this fall, will tie together the Stormy and 70 Mile North sections south of 100 Mile House.
These projects and dozens like them around the province this summer are part of our government’s commitment to enhance safety, grow the economy, maintain and replace aging infrastructure, and support trade for B.C.’s resource sectors.
