Safety. It’s one of, if not THE, biggest focus for our ministry, and that was certainly evident in this week’s news. Whether it was the start of the Malahat safety improvements or the launch of the Cone Zone campaign, driver, pedestrian and worker safety is a priority. If you ever have suggestions or concerns regarding road safety, please let us know. Here’s a contact list of our district offices.
For more information on those safety announcements and a few other bits of news, here’s the week that was in B.C. Transportation:
- Malahat Barrier Installation to Start Next Week - Beginning July 9th, the first section of new concrete median barrier will be installed on the Malahat, improving safety for all motorists that use this route. Five sections of new concrete median barrier, totalling 5.4 km, will be added to the Malahat by spring 2013. When complete, over 40 per cent of the Malahat corridor will be separated with median barrier. Approximately 1.4 kilometres of concrete median barrier will be installed north of Finlayson Arm Road. To make room for the new barrier, the northbound passing lane will be removed.
- New transit directors at BC Transit - Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom has appointed two local government representatives to fill vacancies on the BC Transit board of directors. Appointed to the seven-member BC Transit board of directors are: Mayor Carol Hamilton (City of Colwood), Mayor Peter Milobar (City of Kamloops)
- Further Highway Improvements for Nechako Lakes - A contract has been awarded to Pittnam Asphalt to resurface 2.9 kilometres of Highway 27 in Fort St. James from Stuart River Bridge to Kwah Road. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this summer.
- Cone Zone Keep Roadside Workers Safe - The Work Zone Safety Alliance has launched their 2012 Cone Zone campaign – a road safety initiative that encourages drivers to take care when driving near roadside workers. The campaign encourages drivers to reduce their speed, avoid driver distraction, and respect the roadside as a workplace when driving through the “Cone Zone”
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Savona, Ashcroft Benefit from Highway Improvements - Wider shoulders and new guardrails along a stretch of Highway 1 near Savona will improve safety for motorists travelling toward Kamloops, while recently-completed resurfacing work has improved Highway 97C near Ashcroft. The project on Sabiston Hill, just west of Savona, involves realigning a 1.7-kilometre section, allowing the shoulders to be widened and guardrails to be installed on both sides of the highway. Work began July 3 and is scheduled to be finished by mid-September.
