News Roads & Paving
Working hard to keep Cariboo roads safe during freshet season

To ensure residents of the Cariboo, British Columbia (B.C.) region can commute safely during the freshet season, more than 200 workers and contractors from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure have worked continuously to repair flooding damages on more than 100 road sites.

With the addition of 90 pieces of heavy equipment deployed throughout Cariboo to assist in the repairs, workers have been able to repair more than 40 sites to date, including:

• Dog Creek Road – completed a culvert installation and ditch work at the Roberts Drive intersection;
• Northern Ranches Road – repaired soft road surface areas by placing rock in the road base and capping with crushed gravel; and
• Quesnel – Hixon Road (near Landry Road) – placed protective riprap on the bank of the river and hauled gravel to repair soft spots on the road.

In 2020, the ministry invested $30 million in freshet repairs and upgrades throughout the Cariboo region and is on track to make a similar or higher level of investment this year, as the ministry continues to prioritize the safety of all road users, and reliability of the roads themselves.

“People in the Cariboo are understandably concerned with flooding in the region and the damage it is having on the roads,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “We are working hard to quickly fix roadways that are damaged and to prevent damage in the future, so families can be safe on the roads in the Cariboo and throughout B.C.”

On May 10, 2021, the District Operations Centre (DOC) was established in Williams Lake to support this emergency and facilitate a coordinated response. The DOC is staffed with local and other area subject-matter experts to support the crews working to fix damaged roadways, and as work crews ensure the repairs are made, they simultaneously consider how to prevent future damages.

Information to stay safe

During the spring freshet, road users of the Cariboo region can visit DriveBC.ca to see a list of closed or impacted side roads in the Cariboo.

People with questions about a particular Cariboo road, or a side road they do not see listed, can call the DOC’s toll-free line – +1 (844) 933-0333 – for the most up-to-date information. This phone line is strictly for road information in the Cariboo during the spring freshet.

To report a road-related emergency or maintenance concern in the 100 Mile or Williams Lake area, call Dawson Road Maintenance, toll-free, at +1 (800) 842-4122. In the North Cariboo, call Emcon Services, toll-free, at +1 (866) 353-3136.