BC Highway Construction

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Since when...? The federal government has been throwing lots of money at public transit (and rightly so), so I'm not sure where all this money for your freeway standard is coming from.

You answered your own question. Instead of spending gas tax money on public transit every cent of it should be going toward road projects. Along with other taxes and given how long they've been collecting money we could have had much of the work done. I'm really surprised that you of all people are advocating for what many would consider "just a bit better than a third-world country" highway network.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

You answered your own question. Instead of spending gas tax money on public transit every cent of it should be going toward road projects. Along with other taxes and given how long they've been collecting money we could have had much of the work done. I'm really surprised that you of all people are advocating for what many would consider "just a bit better than a third-world country" highway network.

Conflating a lower design standard with "third-world country" level roads is a bit extreme. There's no value in having wide medians in mountainous terrain, as you're drastically increasing the cost and work needed for very little increase in safety. Having narrow medians with barriers is much more effective.

Traffic lights are inconsequential on roads like the Trans Canada. You're going to need pretty intense volume growth in BC for it to actually cause significant traffic issues. Building it to a free flowing standard through much of BC isn't even close to good bang-for-your-buck. Transit spending is smart. Congestion in Canada is always highest in cities, where public transit can take the load off the roads. We should always be giving higher priority to transit projects. If you can't get the costs of the Trans Canada down, the value argument over transit projects isn't there.

I use the Trans Canada through BC many times a year. I know full well how badly it needs to be upgraded. I just don't see how what you're saying fits what should actually be done.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Conflating a lower design standard with "third-world country" level roads is a bit extreme. There's no value in having wide medians in mountainous terrain, as you're drastically increasing the cost and work needed for very little increase in safety. Having narrow medians with barriers is much more effective.

Traffic lights are inconsequential on roads like the Trans Canada. You're going to need pretty intense volume growth in BC for it to actually cause significant traffic issues. Building it to a free flowing standard through much of BC isn't even close to good bang-for-your-buck. Transit spending is smart. Congestion in Canada is always highest in cities, where public transit can take the load off the roads. We should always be giving higher priority to transit projects. If you can't get the costs of the Trans Canada down, the value argument over transit projects isn't there.

I use the Trans Canada through BC many times a year. I know full well how badly it needs to be upgraded. I just don't see how what you're saying fits what should actually be done.

Personally I don’t mind lights if everybody (myself included) knows to drive with their full attention. In that case, we don’t have to worry about a truck colliding into the few in front of it. (Sadly enough, it happens from time to time in Ontario, and some instances are ugly.) Also, we will need dedicated left-turn traffic lights, especially for roads like Island Highway. I’ve heard that too many T-bones have happened, and it’s about time to curb those.

SFPR’s a different story though.

[Glacier]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Since when...? The federal government has been throwing lots of money at public transit (and rightly so), so I'm not sure where all this money for your freeway standard is coming from.

The federal government has more money than a drunken sailor. They just announced today another 12 million to the price fixing Loblaws corporation.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by Glacier

The federal government has more money than a drunken sailor. They just announced today another 12 million to the price fixing Loblaws corporation.

They don't and that's the problem. They act like they do but in reality they are broke.

[240glt]

Funds approved for new Kootenay Lake ferry

Funds have been approved for a new ferry to replace the aging MV Balfour, which travels between the Balfour and Kootenay Bay terminals on Kootenay Lake.

On Monday the federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities and the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced a combined $54 million will be allocated towards the project

The new ferry will have nearly twice the capacity of the Balfour, and be electric-ready. That means the vessel won’t operate on electricity, but will be ready for a conversion at a later date.

https://www.nelsonstar.com/news/fund...balfour-ferry/

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Funds approved for new Kootenay Lake ferry

Funds have been approved for a new ferry to replace the aging MV Balfour, which travels between the Balfour and Kootenay Bay terminals on Kootenay Lake.

On Monday the federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities and the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced a combined $54 million will be allocated towards the project

The new ferry will have nearly twice the capacity of the Balfour, and be electric-ready. That means the vessel won’t operate on electricity, but will be ready for a conversion at a later date.

https://www.nelsonstar.com/news/fund...balfour-ferry/

I wonder if the wooden onramp in Balfour itself will get replaced it's pretty rickety.

[240glt]

I know they're upgrading both the Balfour and Kootenay Bay terminals but not sure what that entails. The SS Balfour is quite low compared to the Osprey, they had to make some modifications to the terminals to accommodate the height difference. I assume the new ferry will by sit higher in the water so they may be able to make some alterations to the ramps to make them less steep. I dragged the ass end of our little Bigfoot trailer getting off the ferry last time we took it down there

[SpongeG]

Ministry of Transportation announces improvements to road conditions in Northeastern BC

SCOTT BROOKS APRIL 30, 2019

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has announced that improvements to road conditions are coming to Northeastern B.C.

According to the Government, new maintenance contracts with stricter safety measures have been awarded for three service areas in Northern B.C., to ensure better highway conditions during winter weather.

Service Area 22, which includes the communities of Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, and Hudson’s Hope, was awarded to Interior Roads. This contract also includes the maintenance and service of Highways 97, 29, and 77.

...

https://www.energeticcity.ca/2019/04...rj8N-_PFWfjU74

[240glt]

New service station and restaurant amenity is coming to the Coquihalla connector between Merritt and Kelowna

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/ne...f1afb8510.html

[Dengler Avenue]

Okanagan** Connector

[Mazrim]

I wish them the best of luck, but I have doubts that it will turn out well. The original hotel and gas station in the same area failed pretty spectacularly, so I don't see how this will do much better. It's only an hour between Merritt and West Kelowna or Peachland, and the ministry opened a rest area about 10 kilometers away from that area a while ago.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

I wish them the best of luck, but I have doubts that it will turn out well. The original hotel and gas station in the same area failed pretty spectacularly, so I don't see how this will do much better. It's only an hour between Merritt and West Kelowna or Peachland, and the ministry opened a rest area about 10 kilometers away from that area a while ago.

Wow I had totally forgotten that the Elkhart Lodge was up there.

Apparently it's in receivership and for sale for a cool $799,000. I don't see a gas station there though.

https://www.point2homes.com/CA/Other.../58961192.html

[flipper316]

Originally Posted by 240glt

New service station and restaurant amenity is coming to the Coquihalla connector between Merritt and Kelowna

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/ne...f1afb8510.html

Wonder if they're gonna build EV charging with that gas station. Probably not. This is BC they don't think ahead.

[ssiguy]

You know you are in a province that doesn't believe in highway construction when a new gas station makes the news like it's some kind of major investment.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

You know you are in a province that doesn't believe in highway construction when a new gas station makes the news like it's some kind of major investment.

Well I wouldn't call it a major announcement, it was an article in the local Kelowna newspaper

[Metro-One]

So here are some current highway projects for the #1 between Kamloops and Salmon Arm.

The good news is that it seems they are using a mix of interchanges and protected T intersection along this section. I hope they continue with this and when fully twinned this section will contain no traffic lights. (really hope for that short stretch on the eastern end of Kamloops to be upgraded to freeway standard sometime in the somewhat near future).

First is Chase.

Here is phase one which will begin construction this year I believe:

Chase5 by Ian, on Flickr

Chase1 by Ian, on Flickr

Chase2 by Ian, on Flickr

Here is Phase Two which is still in the detailed design phase

Chase3 by Ian, on Flickr

Chase4 by Ian, on Flickr

Really nice to see Chase getting two interchanges.

The section through the Native Reserve (between the current end of the twinned sections and the western end of Phase One) is Phase Three and is still in negotiations. Hopefully they demand full grade separation like the Native Band that has the Pritchard Interchange built instead of the original at grade intersection.

Next is this section of twinning at Ford to Tappen Valley Road (detailed design phase)

FordRd1 by Ian, on Flickr

FordRd2 by Ian, on Flickr

And then West of Salmon Arm

SalmonArm1 by Ian, on Flickr

SalmonArm2 by Ian, on Flickr

SalmonArm3 by Ian, on Flickr

SalmonArm4 by Ian, on Flickr

The major interchange portion is starting construction this year I believe.

Sadly it seems that east of this Interchange the design standard lowers to at grade traffic light intersections.

From this point east around Salmon Arm really should involve an all new road alignment.

[flipper316]

Nice find. Why is it only 2 lanes in the second picture?

[Bobert]

Originally Posted by flipper316

Nice find. Why is it only 2 lanes in the second picture?

Assuming that's where the project starts/ends?

That section near chase looks very well done. Can't wait for it to be complete!

Regarding the alignment at Salmon Arm, I'm not sure where the MoT could put the roadway? Salmon fills up all the space between the lakeshore and Mount Ida

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by flipper316

Nice find. Why is it only 2 lanes in the second picture?

The first pic is what it will look like when all three phases are complete.

The second pic is only for phase one. Phase three is to the west of phase one (through the native reserve)

In the end all 3 phases of the Chase project will equal to 12 km of upgraded highway.

Again, given BC’s population density, difficult and expensive terrain, and our lack of a true federal highway program, I will be satisfied if they continue with this mix of interchanges and protected T intersection approach. It still makes the highway limited access (using frontage roads) and technically freeflow.