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B.C. crews focus on highway and side road resurfacing projects

The Province of British Columbia (B.C.) has prioritized transportation infrastructure, by investing more than $70 million in highway resurfacing, and more than $20 million on sideroad improvements in the province’s southern Interior. By the end of all the resurfacing and improvement projects, crews will have worked on more than  500 kilometers of highways and side roads.

One of the first resurfacing projects began in early May 2021, just south of Clearwater – Highway 5 from Blackwater Road to Birch Island and area sideroads. Expected to be complete by summer 2021, crews will resurface 21 kilometers of Highway 5, as well as 18 kilometers of area side roads.

“We are happy to see crews getting to work on these resurfacing projects. These kinds of investments are providing good-paying jobs for British Columbians and supporting the safe and efficient movement of people and goods that strengthen our economy,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure.

Another project currently underway and expected to be completed during this summer, is the resurfacing of Highway 3A Creston to Sanca Creek Bridge, where 35 kilometers of highway will be resurfaced using hot-in-place resurfacing.

The hot-in-place resurfacing process, which originated in B.C., involves the repurposing of the existing asphalt by heating, softening, and blending it with a small amount of new asphalt, before reapplying it to the surface. This method can increase the operating life of the road, and is a faster process that requires less resources and lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Other major resurfacing projects taking place in the southern Interior this spring and summer include:

Location: Highway 26 Wingdam to Barkerville
Distance: 44 kilometers
Method: Sealcoating
Projected to be complete: July 2021

Location: Highway 23 Downie Creek Bridge to Mica Dam
Distance: 84 kilometers
Method: Conventional paving
Projected to be complete: August 2021

Location: Highway 97 Enterprise Road to 150 Mile House and area side roads
Distance: 16 kilometers (main road), 2 kilometers (side roads)
Method: Conventional paving
Projected to be complete: July 2021

Location: Highway 3 Irishman Creek to Moyie Townsite
Distance: 14 kilometers
Method: Conventional paving
Projected to be complete: October 2021

Location: Highway 97 Williams Lake to McLeese Lake and area side roads
Distance: 28 kilometers (main road), 11 kilometers (side roads)
Method: Conventional paving
Projected to be complete: October 2021

Location: Likely-Horsefly Road and Horsefly Road
Distance: 32 kilometers
Method: Hot-in-place resurfacing
Projected to be complete: July 2021

Location: Westside Road, between Fairmont Hot Springs and Invermere, and multiple Fairmont townsite roads
Distance: 27 kilometers
Method: Conventional paving
Projected to be complete: October 2021

Location: Highway 1 Little River to Salmon Arm, Sunnybrae Road, Little Shuswap Road and multiple area side roads
Distance: 24 kilometers (Highway 1 to Salmon Arm), 40 kilometers (Sunnybrae, Little Shuswap, and side roads)
Method: Conventional paving
Projected to be complete: October 2021

Location: Highway 1 Cache Creek to Walhachin Road and Ashcroft area, and area side roads
Distance: 31 kilometers (main road), 14 kilometers (side roads)
Method: Conventional paving
Projected to be complete: October 2021

Location: Highway 5A Princeton to Aspen Grove and Bates Road
Distance: 63 kilometers (Highway 5A Princeton), 6 kilometers (Bates Road)
Method: Conventional paving
Projected to be complete: October 2021

Location: Highway 24 Bridge Lake North Road to Brake Check
Distance: 34 kilometers
Method: Sealcoating
Projected to be complete: September 2021

As resurfacing projects are in progress, drivers can expect minor delays and, at times, single-lane alternating traffic. Drivers are reminded to obey construction zone speed limits and the direction of traffic control personnel. Updates on delays and closures are available at www.DriveBC.ca.