Road Maintenance

Updates and background on the work we do to maintain and rehab BC bridges and highways during the spring, summer and fall.

Bridging the Week: Malahat, Ports and Your Feedback

How was your week? Ours was busy. Lots of information to share with you this week including: updates on the Malahat, Northern Region road improvement projects, Coastal Ferries and George Massey Tunnel Consultation Summaries, announcements in the Port of Prince Rupert and let’s not forget daylight savings. Malahat Safety Upgrades on the Final Stretch The final portion of work that will complete the government of B.C.’s commitment for new median barrier and other safety improvements on the Malahat is...

With a broad name like Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, there are bound to be questions. Like small-talk at a cocktail party, those 13 syllables beg the question: “So, what do you do?” Our Way is the Highway When thinking about the ministry, the first thing that pops into your head is likely B.C. highways. That’s because about 80 per cent of what we do involves building, rehabilitating and maintaining provincial highways to keep you moving safely and goods...

The Old Kootenay River Channel Bridge, or Old Kootenay Bridge as it is commonly referred to, is just west of Creston on Highway 3. If you’ve never been there before, you can see it here on Google Maps. It’s a straight, two-lane bridge about 300 metres long and runs over the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area – a very sensitive wetlands ecosystem that’s home to a large number of hooved animals, lizards, amphibians and water birds. Like any bridge,...

Clearing Your Paths: 5 Big Highway Clean-Ups of 2012

Mother Nature can be harsh on B.C. highways. From rock, snow and ice, to water, mud and debris of various kinds, she packs a serious punch. As much as we guard against floods, slides, and the like, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, along with our maintenance crews, are inevitably confronted with big clean-up jobs every year. We had our fair share of challenges in 2012. Here are five major highway clean-ups from the last 12 months: One serious...

Lines and signs have been popping up on B.C. highways recently, as a result of local organizations and people who see ways to enhance safety in their communities. Community leaders, including local governments, school districts, community groups, First Nations, RCMP, MLAs and individuals, regularly bring their ideas to folks at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s district offices. Their requests over the last year have resulted in about 30 new improvements designed to clearly communicate the rules (and borders)...

Just when we thought it wasn’t possible to pack more milestones into our weekly summary of transportation related news in BC, things really started to pick up speed. This week will see the Port Mann Bridge opened to eight lanes of traffic and the eastern portion South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR) opened as well. The George Massey Tunnel replacement project and consultation process is high on our radar as is the Coastal Ferries Engagement. And then there’s our day...

Did you know that B.C.’s maintenance contractors maintain more than 47,500 kilometres of road and 2,800 structures, and employ about 2,000 people who provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week? That is just one tidbit of information from the roundup of transportation related news releases which happened this week. Read on for more about this and other interesting pieces of information you might have missed, in this edition of Bridging the Week. Extension of BC Highway...

This week we welcomed the month of October, the time of year when we start to wind down our summer maintenance activities and gear up for winter. Such is the ebb and flow of life in the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. This long weekend, many of us will gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving, the gift of sharing and being grateful for the things we have at hand. We are grateful to work with countless people across the province...

Pacific Marine Circle Route: A Photo Road Trip

“The journey, not the arrival, matters.” – T.S. Eliot Travelling in circles doesn’t necessarily mean you’re lost. Ending up right back where you started can be a wonderful thing if you consider everything that happened along the way. So it goes with the nine B.C. highway circle routes designated by Tourism BC and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The shortest route can be done in a single day, or carried out over several, depending on your pace. The...

A concern, a problem, a beef, an issue… There are lots of words to express that something is unsatisfactory or unsettling to you. And at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, there are several ways you can tell us about something that you think is just not right on provincial roads. Your information helps us ensure our roads are safe for everyone. Report a road problem to the contractor – Our maintenance contractors work hard to keep the roads...