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B.C. Highway 16 improvement project complete

The Highway 16 Bunce Road to Blackwater Road improvement project west of Prince George, B.C. is complete, making it a safer and more efficient drive for people travelling throughout the community.

“The Government of Canada recognizes that investing in our transportation networks is key to sustaining economic growth and creating liveable communities,” said François-Philippe Champagne, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “I’m very pleased to see these important improvements to the busy Highway 16 corridor reach completion, which will allow people to spend less time on the road and help businesses get their goods to market safely and efficiently.”

This project reduces traffic congestion with a new four-laned segment of highway, and a new median barrier will better protect people from crossover collisions. The upgrades also provide safer opportunities for highway merging, exiting and passing.

“People who live and work in this area have been asking for upgrades to make it safer and to deal with congestion,” said Claire Trevena, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “That’s why we made this project a priority and it is a great example of what can be accomplished when all levels of government work together.”

The project included the following improvements:

• Approximately 3.4 kilometres of new four-laning on Highway 16 from Bunce Road to east of Jensen Road.

• Intersection upgrades at:
◦ Bunce Road/Gauthier Road and Highway 16, including a new deceleration lane onto Gauthier Road.
◦ Haldi Road and Highway 16, including a reconfiguration to prevent left turns from Haldi Road onto the highway.
◦ Blackwater Road, Sykes Road West/East and Highway 16, including adding new traffic signals.

• Installation of a permanent centre-line median on Highway 16.
• Extension of Buckingham Road to connect with Purdue Road West.
• Extended pedestrian underpass, new sidewalk and sidewalk lighting at Bunce Road.

“Council would again like to extend its appreciation to the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada for this project, which upgrades an important transportation corridor,” said Lyn Hall, mayor of Prince George. “We are very pleased about the completion of this important operation that will help to increase the safety of motorists and pedestrians along this busy route into our city. The city continues to improve infrastructure near this project, including enhancements to sidewalks, water mains and drainage.”

This $22.8-million project was cost shared, with the Government of Canada providing $8.4 million, the Province of British Columbia providing $13.8 million and the City of Prince George providing $600,000.