B.C. commits to 18 infrastructure improvement projects in northwest

The Province of British Columbia recently announced it is investing $25.8 million to improve various highways in northwestern B.C.

The highway infrastructure funding will be spread across 18 different projects, with the largest one being the resurfacing of approximately 34 km of Highway 16 between Khyex River and Kasiks River, west of Terrace, B.C., valued at $7.75 million.

The contract was awarded to Peter’s Bros. Construction, with work expected to begin in May.

The projects are an effort by the province to improve the safety and efficiency of B.C.’s highway network.

“The Northwest plays an important role in the province’s economic well-being,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom. “Investing in our transportation network is a vital part of ensuring that continues. We want to ensure the region has safe, reliable infrastructure to move products to market and support jobs and economic growth.”

The projects are expected to add 125 jobs to the local economy.

2012-13 projects in northwestern B.C.

– Highway 16: resurface approximately 34 km of Highway 16 between Khyex River and Kasiks River, west of Terrace.

– Highway 37N: sealcoat 92 km between Hodder Lake and Burrage airstrip, north of Kitwanga.

– Highway 37N: sealcoat 41 km of Highway 37N between Ealue Lake and Stikine Hill, south of Dease Lake.

– Highway 37N: widen shoulders along Highway 37 from 9 Mile to Sawmill, north of Dease Lake.

– Highway 37N: brushing along Highway 37N between Bob Quinn and Deltaic Creek.

– Highway 113: replace the temporary one-lane structure with a two-lane structure located over the Diskangieg Creek, near Greenville.

– New Hazelton Hi-level Road: rehabilitate the Hagwilget Bridge.

– Smithers area rural side road improvements: improve local side roads through improvements such as widening, gravelling and reconstruction of drainage structures.

– Highway 16: remove mountain pine beetle-killed dangerous trees and brush along various highway rights-of-way in the Smithers area.

– Kispiox Road: repair road base and sealcoat 10 km of the Kispiox Road near Hazelton.

– Glacier Gulch Road: sealcoat three km of the Glacier Gulch Road west of Smithers.

– Highway 16: install lighting at the Hungry Hill chain-up/off site on Highway 16, east of Smithers.

– Terrace area rural side road improvements: improve local area side roads, including the sealcoating of various side roads in the north Terrace area.

– Highway 37 and Highway 113: place roadside barrier along Highway 37 south of Terrace and along Highway 113 north of Terrace.

– Highway 62: install a pullout on Highway 62 near the Canyon Lookout in Old Hazelton.

– Highway 16: install crosswalk on Highway 16 in Telkwa and other pedestrian improvements.

– Masset: improve sidewalk along Raven Road between Masset and Old Masset.

– Speed reader boards: install speed reader boards in Prince Rupert, Port Edward and Hazelton.