And it’s not just us. In fact, all government-related advertising, communications, Internet and social media activities will be limited to health and safety of the public and answering questions from the public related to services.

Some background: Tuesday, April 16 marks the start of the provincial election or writ period. As a result, government will be observing Elections BC rules by restricting public communication, including  web and social media presence to items which are statutory in nature, necessary for health and safety or related to services that remain available to the public during the writ period.

What does that mean for you? First off, DriveBC (www.DriveBC.ca and Twitter) is unaffected, so you’ll still be able to get the information you need there.

Also, if anything comes up that involves your safety, you can bet we’ll be posting about it and keeping you informed through the usual channels. And if you have a question for us, we can still respond to you. That’s the good news.

The bad news is we won’t be publishing any new blogs or other such content until there’s a newly elected government.

Fortunately, it won’t be for long. Once the votes are cast and counted, we’ll be back, and we’re already looking forward to sharing our stories with you and keeping you informed about what we’re doing in your community.

If you have any questions on the election period and how it impacts government, please contact Elections BC, they’re also on Facebook and Twitter

Keep in touch, and we look forward to sharing more blogs in June.

Courtesy Tourism Dawson Creek

Northern B.C. is the place to drive in summer for long daylight hours, unspoiled wilderness and unlimited fishing, hiking and outdoor enjoyment.  It also offers routes to the Yukon and Alaska – including the famed Alaska Highway – a highlight-of-a-lifetime road adventure.

Here are some tips for motoring to the Alaska Highway and up the historic highway itself, to the Yukon. We’ve got a few points of interest for you, including B.C. provincial parks, which accommodate recreational vehicles. Once you’re onto the Alaska Highway, north of Fort Nelson, you’re getting into wilderness, so note the section further below for information about gas stations, rest areas, camping and some of the steeper hills.

Note:  The parks and attractions named below are a few highlights only. For more details, check out BC Parks and TourismBC.  Keep in mind, while looking at maps, that Highway 97 is also called the Alaska Highway, as it travels north from Dawson Creek.  Facilities and services can change over time, so you may wish to check with local visitor centres.

Tips for Travelling North

Stay on top of road conditions and construction activity while travelling by visiting DriveBC on your laptop or mobile. Note that from Fort Nelson northward, internet connectivity is limited or unavailable.

Should an emergency arise while you are in the Pink Mountain area, or any further north, don’t dial 911. (The 911 service is not available there). Instead, call Northern Rockies RCMP (250) 774-2777, BC Ambulance Service (250) 774-2344 or Northern Rockies Fire Rescue (250) 774-2222.

Watch for wildlife – the north has many species of animals that could cross your path.

Wood bison. Courtesy Tourism Northern Rockies

Turn on your headlights in the day whenever visibility is poor – for example in rainy or dusty conditions.  Most vehicles have daytime running lights but when you turn on your headlights, you’ll be easier to see from behind.

Getting to Dawson Creek, BC.  – Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway

From Grande Prairie, Alberta (Two Routes)

West, Then North – take Highway 43 west and once you’re into B.C., the road becomes Highway 2 – the Dawson Creek-Tupper Highway. This route passes Swan Lake Provincial Park and Pouce Coupe, then enters Dawson Creek, Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway.

North, Then West – take Highway 2 north, then turn west onto Highway 49.  Shortly after arriving in B.C. you’ll get to Dawson Creek, Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway (Also known as Highway 97).

Another option from Grand Prairie is take Highway 2 north, pass the turnoff to Highway 49, then turn onto Highway 64. Highway 64 travels north then heads west, and once over the B.C. border, the route becomes Cecil Lake Road. Turn left onto Rose Prairie Road, which will take you onto and through Fort St. John. Keep driving through town and you’ll find yourself on Mile 45 of the Alaska Highway.

From Prince George, B.C. via Highway 97

Head north on Highway 97 from Prince George and drive 402 kilometres to Dawson Creek. Along the way there are some beautiful provincial parks.

Whiskers Point Provincial Park has lakeside camping and lots of activities for children.

Pine Le Moray Provincial Park features peaceful camping beside Heart Lake, among the rugged Hart Ranges of the Rocky Mountains.  (How could you not love this place?)

Moberly Lake Provincial Park offers swimming and fishing in the lake and has an information kiosk about the area’s history, flora and fauna.

This is it!!  – Dawson Creek – Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway

Driving the Alaska Highway is not the challenge it once was, years and years ago.  (Ever seen those “I Drove the Alaska Highway and Survived” bumper stickers?) The road is now fully hard-surfaced, and over time more services have become available – but be aware that some gas stations can be far between.

Dawson Creek is an excellent place to start your Alaska Highway journey and get information about Campgrounds and Gas Stations Along the Alaska Highway, so be sure to stop by the visitors centre to help plan your route.  The town also has the Alaska Highway House which depicts the route’s rapid construction by 30,000 U.S. soldiers, along with Canadian civilians, during the Second World War.

Courtesy Alaska Highway House, Tourism Dawson Creek

The Alaska Highway – Dawson Creek to Fort St. John

Kiskatinaw Provincial Park is a short walk from the Kiskatinaw Bridge, built by the U.S. military, as part of the Alaska Highway. The 30-metre high bridge was the first curved wooden bridge built in Canada and is the last curved, banked trestle bridge standing in Western Canada.

The Alaska Highway – Fort St. John to Fort Nelson

Charlie Lake and Beatton provincial parks both offer swimming, fishing, hiking and boating and are located on either side of Charlie Lake.

Mile 80 Rest Area is the last provincial rest area heading northward.  Located by a river it has running water (not potable) and flush toilets.  Check the nearby overhead message sign, for any road conditions further up the highway.

Sikanni South Hill – Grade: 9% (three kilometres)

Sikanni North Hill – Grade: 8% (two kilometres)

Courtesy Jerrye and Roy Klotz Md

South Taylor Hill – Grade: 6-10% (five kilometres)

Buckinghorse River Wayside Provincial Park is east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and is known for grayling fishing.

Andy Bailey Regional Park and Campground has 12 un-serviced campsites, eight tent sites and a launch for non-motorized boats – a great place to picnic in a forested setting or for a quick fishing adventure.

The Alaska Highway – Fort Nelson to Watson Lake

Tourism Northern Rockies is a great information source for Fort Nelson area and further north, and has a travel guide about private accommodations and regional parks, including Tetsa River Campground.

Fort Nelson Visitor Information Centre near the Fort Nelson Museum offers free wireless internet service, and the latest information. This is the last TourismBC visitor’s centre for the rest of the Alaska Highway.

Courtesy JF Bergeron/Envirofoto

Steamboat Hill – Grade: 8% (two kilometres)

Stone Mountain Provincial Park  provides spectacular views of the Northern Rockies (hence the park’s name) and a good likelihood of spotting wildlife.

Summit North 1 Hill – Grade: 8% (two kilometres)

Summit North 2 Hill – Grade: 6% (1.7 kilometres)

Muncho Lake Courtesy Tourism Northern Rockies

Muncho Lake Provincial Park is close to the highway and has two campgrounds near the 12-kilometre lake.

Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park is open all year long for northern travellers to soak and relax.  Visitors reach the hot pools via a boardwalk which passes through boreal forest and a warm water swamp.

Hyland River Provincial Park is the last provincial park along the Alaska Highway, before the Yukon border.

Watson Lake, Yukon has full services and repairs and is the junction to new routes.

Want to See Even More of Northern B.C.? 

The Great Northern Circle Route links the Alaska Highway to Watson Lake, Yukon, with the scenic B.C. Highway 37 – the Stewart Cassiar Highway. The 725-kilometre route is hard-surfaced, with the exception of one kilometre of gravel, and has three provincial parks with RV camping. Fascinating side trips include Highway 37A to Stewart, touring through the Yukon to reach historic Atlin, B.C., and travelling Telegraph Creek Road as it follows the Stikine River through dramatic canyons, to reach the community of Telegraph Creek.

Highway 37, near Kitwanga

If you’ve been hankering to see B.C.’s other northern neighbour, there’s the Deh Cho Travel Connection where B.C. Highway 77 spurs off the Alaska Highway north of Fort Nelson and leads through part of the Northwest Territories, then back south to Alberta.

Going Further Along the Alaska Highway? 

You might want to look into the Milepost, which has guided travellers along the route since 1949, and is updated annually.

Northern B.C. highways take you to remote places of breathtaking beauty and historic significance.  The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is pleased to contribute to safe passage for all modern-day explorers.

Side Trip: Highway 37A – Bear Glacier

That’s exactly what we encountered when we needed to do some work along Highway 97A near Sicamous. So what did we do? We brought in a custom-designed wood chipper that can be operated by helicopter. Yes, it’s just as cool as you think a flying wood chipper would be.

The crew that operates this aerial chipper affectionately refers to it as “Martha”, and she’s a powerhouse. In 8 hours, she cleared over eighty trees,  allowing the rock scalers to stabilize the slope. Want to see thing in action? Thought so. That’s why we put a video together for you.

And as a cautionary note, please don’t try this at home. These folks are trained aerial wood-chipping professionals, and they know how to do this work safely.

To make good decisions on where and when to travel, real-time highway information is essential. Between checking the current road conditions and events, having a look at your route with the webcams and talking directly with DriveBC staff on Twitter, you get the information you need when you need it.

But have you ever wondered what it takes to make the system work? Or how much information it’s actually providing? If so, you’ll want to have a look at this video we put together. It walks you through some of DriveBC’s more popular features, but it also gives you a bit of a glimpse behind the scenes to show you how DriveBC is evolving and how it’s helping travellers know before they go.

How does the ministry work in conjunction with municipalities and Metro Vancouver to solve problems and plan projects?

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure meets with municipalities and Metro Vancouver to discuss ideas and concerns about transportation in the region and across the province. With provincial highways and municipal routes all connected, each affects the other.  The provincial and local governments have a shared interest in keeping traffic moving safely through villages, towns and cities and throughout the province.

One way we work with municipalities, is to help develop or update their Official Community Plans. Together, we identify key transportation concerns, and develop long-term and short-term solutions that meet both the municipalities’ and ministry’s needs.

The ministry also works with local governments during municipal land rezoning, when the land is within 800 metres of accessing a provincial highway. This ensures traffic from new land developments joins provincial routes smoothly and safely.

Municipalities and the ministry work together on transportation solutions.

When we’re planning upgrades or additions to a provincial highway, we consider the transportation needs of surrounding communities.  We discuss any issues or impacts with local governments and keep them informed of the project’s progress.

When will an overpass be built at 72nd Avenue and Highway 91?

We have been working with the Corporation of Delta on interchange design options for Highway 91 at 72nd Avenue, and are doing preliminary engineering work to identify construction techniques and structures suited to the area’s challenging geotechnical and environmental conditions.  There will be an announcement when project details are confirmed and project funding is secured.

Courtesy Google Maps

 How about a map with all the rest areas on it??

We’re glad you asked about this because rest areas are great places to take a break on the road.  We are looking to unveil a rest area map in the near future.  Stay tuned to TranBC.

Ministry staff fixing up a rest area picnic table.

Would love to see more about wildlife and wildlife passages over highways.

Our use of wildlife passages under and over busy highways is on the rise. When combined with fencing, these passages allow animals to move about safely near and across highways. The passages not only protect animals, they reduce the number of collisions with cars, protecting people too. Watch for more on this topic soon and keep an eye on TranBC Twitter and Facebook for Wildlife Wednesdays.

Bighorn sheep used this overhead passage even before the fencing was completed.

We spoke with Sharlie Huffman, who is the Senior Bridge Seismic and Structural Health Monitoring Engineer with the ministry and asked her a few questions about engineering and the role of women in this field. Sharlie was recently awarded  a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal which recognizes Canadians who have made a lasting contribution to the quality of life we enjoy.

1.   What made you want to become an engineer? How long have you been in the engineering field?

I always loved puzzles and mystery stories and, according to my parents, had way too much curiosity!  Science turned out to be the ideal field for me (along with math).  It either answered my questions or let me know how many other people were also seeking the same answers.  Also, I like playing with numbers.  Numbers for me are just pieces of the puzzle.  If you put them together in the right way, you get the answer.

In college, I found physics was too theoretical.  I liked science I could touch.  My professor said that I should really transfer to engineering – and I did.  I graduated in 1981 and came directly to the Ministry of Transportation.  It has been an incredible and satisfying journey.  I have had many puzzles and mysteries to solve over the years and have been able to create some very visible and long lasting answers (bridges).  Of course, I still have many outstanding puzzles and I do not expect that to change as long as I live.  Being an engineer isn’t just something I do.  It is something I am.

2.   What is the most memorable project you have worked on? Why?

Wow, well, every project has its excitement, frustrations and ultimate satisfaction.  The first big design project I had was designing the 500 metre Yellowhead Bridge in Prince George.  I started it as an Engineer in Training  and finished it as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng).  Later in my career, when I became the Regional Bridge Engineer out of Prince George, I got to drive over it regularly and was professionally responsible for its condition and its issues.  Fortunately it has had no structural problems in its almost 30-year life.  Must have been a good design.

I think the development of the ministry bridge monitoring program and the BCSIMS web site has to be another highlight. It will be here long after I am not.  I’ll be looking in on it though, checking the website for improvements and expansion of the structural health network and still feeling satisfaction from it for many years to come.

3.   What tips or advice do you have for girls or women thinking about a career in engineering?

Go for it!  It would be a decision you will never regret.  Engineering lets you work in a team or almost-solo (your choice), interact with bright, enthusiastic thinkers and problem solvers – sometimes with a slightly wacky sense of humour and occasionally a way of thinking that is outside the box – and move the world forward in a positive way.

If you like numbers for the fun of them, there is a place for you in engineering.  If you like math that is practical and means something real, there is a place for you.  If you like science and you want to spend your life in research, you can be a theoretical scientist, but there are also places for you in engineering.  I like all the above and manage to have a job that provides it all.

You can work with the environment (not just in concept, but in practice), with municipal systems, with mechanics (including designing medical instruments), robotics, electronics (including musical instruments), roads and transportation networks or my personal favourite – structures.  I like structures the best because they are a team effort, letting lots of people call them “mine”, they provide safe passage or enclosure for people and they stand there long enough to show your grandchildren what you have built.

4.   You were recently awarded  a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Could you explain how you were nominated and tell us a little bit about how it felt to receive this honour?

It felt wonderful to receive the medal and to know that my colleagues had nominated me and felt me worthy of it.

5.   What is the most exciting thing about the future of engineering and what role do you think women have in developing that future?

Engineering is one field that will always have a future, is not location specific and is in demand in the best and the worst of times.  Women are generally very good at multi-tasking, organizing chaos (or over-stimulated toddlers) and creative about problem solving which makes them natural engineers.  In my experience I have found women less concerned with hierarchal posturing and more concerned with solutions; less concerned with personal wins and more open to consensus and team wins.  What women often need to improve on is confidence.

So, what do you think? Does engineering sound like the pieces of a perfect puzzle for you? If you are interested in learning more about how the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure recruits Engineers in Training, check back at the Province’s Employment Opportunities page in winter 2014. We look forward to working with you!

While those in Victoria were welcoming blooming cherry blossoms, others in many parts of the province remained knee deep in the throes of winter (just like these mountain caribou spotted at the Kootenay Pass summit in the morning).

Weather differs drastically around B.C., and it can also change in an instant, especially when travelling mountain passes. To give you an idea just how diverse our weather and road conditions are, we selected a few webcam images from yesterday. Let it be a reminder to be ready for anything, even when the calendar suggests otherwise.

Southern Vancouver Island hasn’t experience much snow this year, so it’s no surprise B.C. Highway 1 was clean and looking green.

Cross the ferry and head down the highway a few minutes later and that’s a different story. The story on B.C. Highway 1 near Abbotsford was rain, fog… and lots of it. You know what they say, though, right? “March showers bring…” wait, that’s not quite it.

Continue travelling along B.C. Highway 1 to the Southern Interior and weather conditions only got colder (and still wet!), as you can see here with the freezing rain at Boston Bar, north of Hope.

Winter was in full effect on Highway 23, 90 kilometres north of Revelstoke. It may have been the first day of spring, but plows continued to add to these snow banks.

Sorry Dawson Creek, it just looked plain dreary on B.C. Highway 2.

But it was a gorgeous late afternoon near the Skidegate ferry terminal on Haida Gwaii. What a beautiful day for a sail.

Spring does not treat all B.C. drivers equally. After all, it’s a transition period, and weather conditions can bring a little bit of everything. No matter where you live, it’s important to be aware of the road ahead and prepare accordingly. That includes taking advantage of your DriveBC HighwayCams, which includes the option to create a list of your go-to cams (called MyCams).

What webcams do you monitor the most? How’s the weather?

1. Sweeping and washing 41, 421 kilometres of roads across the province. Check. All that sand and salt we lay down during the winter has to be swept up off highways to help keep you moving in spring and summer. Here’s a quick video showing what a difference a sweep and a wash can make to highways after a long winter:

2. Sweep and wash more than 2,500 bridges across the province.  Check. Bridges are a big part of B.C. highways and so it makes sense that our spring cleaning checklist also includes annual bridge cleaning too.

3. Enforce seasonal load restrictions for heavy vehicles. Check. In spring, as temperatures begin to rise, roads start to weaken. The thawing releases water in the road, that can’t drain efficiently, if the surrounding soil remains frozen. Learn more about how heavy loads can damage spring roads here.

4. Brushing is also a big part of our spring clean. Check. It’s a matter of routine. You wake up in the morning, brush your hair and get ready for the day ahead. We do something similar, only on a much larger scale. But it’s not our hair we’re brushing, it’s our roadways. Learn more about our brushing routine.

5. Prepare ourselves for rising water levels. Check. You may have heard us talk about freshet before; it’s the snow melt that typically occurs from April to July in B.C. Now that it’s spring, we’re getting ready to protect your highways and bridges from cases of increased water levels. We are stockpiling sandbags and rip rap, just in case, in an effort to keep you safe and dry.

So, now that you know our approach spring cleaning, tell us – where are you going to go this summer on B.C. highways?

Wouldn’t it be cool to see the Trans-Canada transform right before your eyes?

Well, you can.

That’s right – it’s time lapse video time, and we’ve got five Trans-Canada quickies lined up for you. Our time travels begin at the west end of B.C. Highway 1 and end near the Alberta border. Hold on tight!

At 10 lanes, the Port Mann is the widest bridge in the world, crossing the Fraser River and connecting the communities of Coquitlam and Surrey. It took four years to build, but you can watch it take form in less than two minutes.

Clanwilliam Bridge

Eastbound travellers approaching Revelstoke will notice a new four-lane crossing over the Canadian Pacific Railway. The old Clanwilliam Bridge was deteriorating, so we replaced the bridge as part of widening 2.3 kilometres of B.C. Highway 1. It’s out with the old and in with the new in this 90-second time lapse.

Donald Bridge and Railway Overhead

Continuing east toward Golden, travellers cross two new structures needed to widen 3.5 kilometres of the Trans-Canada. They replaced bridges built in 1961, improving the railing design and approaches to the crossings. The new four-lane Donald Bridge spans the Columbia River, and the four-lane Donald Railway Overhead crosses the Canadian Pacific Railway. Watch these two bridges appear in less than two minutes.

The Trans-Canada may be 50 years old, but that doesn’t mean it has to show its age. As new, safer structures replace the old, time lapse videos created from construction cameras are a great way to document projects. And, of course, this kind of time travel is simply entertaining, too.

We have many more videos in our YouTube Time Lapse Showcase.

Got a favourite?

So, what is an area manager?

The best way to describe an area manager is as a “local representative” for the ministry, especially in the case of working in an area office, where you’re often the only transportation employee there.  As for myself, I work out of the Creston area office, and many of my office colleagues are from different ministries. Most of my transportation colleagues are 130 km away in the Nelson office.

Meet Cliff Razzo, Area Manager

As an area manager you will become the face of the ministry in the community.  Also you will spend time getting to know stakeholders and other agencies in the area and addressing their transportation concerns.  Commonly, I find people in the community will approach me in public and ask if I am the “Highways Guy”.  That said, I find most people who approach me are genuine in their concerns and just need some questions answered or someone to speak to.

In this role you work closely with the maintenance contractor to deliver an effective program that deals with maintenance and infrastructure priorities within the area.  In addition, you are always identifying improvements to the local road and highway infrastructure.  You become the advocate for your area.

How much snow do you have to deal with on your morning commute?

What does your average day look like?

A typical day starts around 7:30 am when I arrive at the office.  If it has snowed overnight, I try to get out on the road to see how the maintenance contractor is managing.  That might mean a trip to Kootenay Pass or a tour of the local school bus routes.  Then I usually make my way to the office to catch up on emails and check my phone messages.  The nice thing about my job is each day is different.  One day could consist of meetings with local stakeholders and the next day could be dealing with road closures due to high avalanche hazard on Kootenay Pass.

What is the best thing about being an area manager?

The greatest reward in this position is feeling that you have made a difference with local stakeholders, helping them to be successful with their business and/or operational needs while ensuring a safe and efficient road network in your area.  For example, I find it challenging and rewarding to work with the logging industry, ensuring they are able to move their products during seasonal load restrictions without impacting the local infrastructure or unduly effecting their operations.  It’s important to me that we ensure industry is as productive as possible without impacting our infrastructure.

Being on the road a lot, you must have a lot of interesting stories. What’s one that really stands out?

One area that really stands out for me as an interesting place to work and travel through is Kootenay Pass on Highway 3 between Creston and Salmo.  Kootenay Pass is the highest year round mountain pass in Canada with the summit elevation at 1774 metres above sea level.  A trip over Kootenay Pass never fails to disappoint with crystal clear mountain streams flowing along the highway while portions of the Selkirk Mountain Range soar overhead.  You never know what you’re going to see while traveling over the pass.

Avalanche control on Kootenay Pass – a common sight for Cliff

Besides observing the avalanche control and deposit removal in the winter, Kootenay Pass contains some of the most unique wildlife in the Kootenays.   For example, one of my first times traveling over the pass, I spotted a large bull Mountain Caribou walking up the middle of the highway near the summit.   He was quite massive and seemed not to be bothered by passing motorists.  This encounter with the Caribou is an important reminder that we must be alert for wildlife along BC highways.  Unfortunately the Mountain Caribou are limited in numbers these days.  As a result, I have worked proactively with the Ministry of Environment and local environmental groups to educate motorist about the Mountain Caribou and for the potential to encounter them on Kootenay Pass.

One of the many unusual sights Cliff sees.

If you had one piece of advice for people, what would it be?

If I were to give one piece of advice to motorists travelling over Kootenay Pass, it would be to take their time and drive according to the road conditions.  Just because the posted speed limit is 100 km/h doesn’t mean you should travel that speed over compact snow or ice.  It is a beautiful drive over the summit, so please enjoy the drive, and don’t forget to check DriveBC to “know before you go”.  If you drive according to the road conditions, you should never have any issues travelling in the winter and reach your destination safely.

Many thanks to Cliff for taking the time out of his busy schedule to share his thoughts and provide a little insight about what goes on behind the scenes here at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. If you’d like to find out more, Cliff is also on Twitter, providing regular updates about the roads in his area. You can follow him at @TranBC_KootPass.