New highway signs rarely get much fanfare. Although extremely important for safety and navigation, they are just signs, after all. They’re not very exciting. In fact, there’s even a song about them, and it’s not all that flattering. But when the ministry installed new “FENDER BENDER” signs on Highway 91’s Alex Fraser Bridge recently, people seemed genuinely happy about it. Here are a few of the tweets we received: So, why are people so enthusiastic? If you drove the...
Starting April 29, and continuing until October 3, the Pattullo Bridge deck will be under rehab construction to keep the roadway safe. Only two lanes will be open during the five months of work. You can still use the bridge, but obviously this will impact your travel times and your trip planning around the lower mainland. We’ve gathered some information from TransLink (they operate the Pattullo) and provided some suggestions so you’re better prepared. How This Impacts Your Travel...
It’s official. The old Port Mann Bridge has been completely dismantled and demolition work is now done. Built in 1964 as a key part of the Trans-Canada Highway, this iconic bridge spanned the Fraser River between Surrey and Coquitlam and served traffic moving in and out of Greater Vancouver for many, many years. Construction of the new 10 lane Port Mann Bridge required dismantling the old bridge, which began in December 2012. Why Couldn’t We Keep the Old Bridge?...
It’s no secret. Extreme weather is on the rise as a result of global climate change. What impacts will climate change have on our transportation infrastructure? Expect an increase in dramatic weather events like: coastal storm surges, extreme precipitation events and an increase in higher than normal temperatures. Across BC, there are thousands of bridges allowing motorists to travel over our many lakes, rivers and streams. Our roadways also have countless culverts to pass water safely and prevent flood...
Aviation is on the rise in British Columbia thanks to a new funding program aimed at improving airports. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is accepting grant applications for the British Columbia Air Access Program (BCAAP), a BC on the Move initiative designed to help airport operators improve their infrastructure and strengthen local and provincial economies. During public consultation for the BC on the Move 10-year transportation plan, we discovered 70 per cent of you agree we should support...
No, the shoe-soaking shuffle displayed in the video above is not British Columbia’s answer to Gangnam Style. These moves make more sense. The crew is installing articulated matting where Charles Creek flows into Howe Sound as part of the final phase of erosion protection in the small community of Strachan Point, located between Horseshoe Bay and Lions Bay. The project was completed in fall 2014, providing the final level of protection for a Sea to Sky Highway bridge, a...
Last year, from October to December, we asked you to tell us what the transportation priorities should be for BC over the next 10 years. We call it BC on the Move. And you responded. A lot. It was fantastic. This included: 44,000 visits to the website 12,500 surveys completed 100 meetings with 550 representatives of First Nations, local governments, chambers of commerce, ports and airports and various other stakeholders. A very busy Twitter Town Hall 70 meetings...
Creating concrete structures for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and even animals to flow over, under or around roads is a speciality of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. And, now we’ve built a new kind of underpass for traffic that travels on two legs with two boards attached. It’s a ski underpass below Hudson Bay Mountain Road, near Smithers, and it provides safe passage for cross-country skiers. The tunnel links the Bulkley Valley Nordic Centre lodge and parking lot with...
We heard a lot of good ideas from you during the BC on the Move Twitter Town Hall that Minister Todd Stone hosted last month (Nov 2014) as part of 10-year transportation planning. We also received some really good questions; so many, in fact, that we have been busy organizing into themes – like cycling – and getting you answers. Let’s start, shall we? Question: @toddstonebc Has thought been put into how bicycle-based commuting in temperate-climate cities could =...
