This blog was last updated FEBRUARY 2018 Our 170 BC Rest Areas are the perfect spot to refresh and recharge before heading out on the highway, and they are about to get a whole lot better. Since the beginning of 2016, we’ve been working closely with the BC Trucking Association on the BC Highway Rest Area Survey and report. We wanted to get the voice of the trucking industry – what they like and what they don’t like –...
Sometimes moving to something new means moving something older – but not too far. That’s the case with the single-lane Fort Nelson River Bridge, which we moved about 10.5 metres in mid-April, to allow for a new two-lane bridge to be built on Highway 77, about 70 km north of Fort Nelson. The existing bridge will serve as a detour while the new bridge is being built. This video shows the existing bridge – a lengthy 430 metres –...
Rail safety matters all the time, and every place there is train tracks. So, we embarked on a tour to four continents to pick out what we thought were the most powerful messages to keep people off tracks – and away from death and injury. Every year, about 100 people are killed or injured in Canada from encounters with trains. Here are some warnings we hope people will heed, wherever they are in the world. Don’t be a Bob!...
Engineers are a creative bunch by nature. When faced with a challenging situation, their desire to find a solution is second only to the creativity and analysis they use to overcome that obstacle. The terrain of British Columbia has no shortage of dramatic and difficult terrain for our highway engineers and they are full of innovative solutions. Engineers envision highways carved out of mountainsides and bridges that span awe inspiring gulches and make those visions a reality. Some of...
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...
