Highways in Canada

[swimmer_spe]

With the massive storm in BC washing away bridges and whole sections of various highways, Is it time we reexamine how we lay highways? For those that have driven these highways, you'll know that they are built right next to rivers and cliffs and high mountains. We have seen that a big enough storm makes this a recipe for disaster. Here are a few of my "back of napkin" ideas:

1) Longer, higher bridges. Instead of building bridges to the edge of rivers, we should have a flood buffer such that water shouldn't come close to the abutments of the bridge in normal year rain and runoff conditions.

2) Tunnels. TCH/BC 5 Vancouver to the BC border does not have a single tunnel. They have a few snow sheds. Maybe it is time to tunnel through the mountain to avoid problem areas.

3) More routes. Imagine if the Island of Montreal only had half their crossings (9 currently) and something happened to close them all. The fact there is more of them means a better chance of getting some open sooner. You might say "But there is a mountain in the way." I'd say: "See Number 2".

4) Proper barriers. One of the problem, especially on the Malahat was the fact that most barriers did not have proper drainage holes. That is why it became a river. If they are going to use movable barriers, they should all have large drainage holes to allow the water to quickly drain off the highway and into the ditches.

It is my hope that this event changes how highway, especially in BC, are designed.