The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's 2012 Community Service Initiative, in partnership with the BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, has resulted in the completion of local infrastructure improvements that will benefit families in many communities around the province.

This is the second year that the ministry has partnered with its highway-maintenance contractors to undertake improvements in smaller B.C. communities. Ministry staff and staff from local highway-maintenance contractors volunteer their time, expertise and equipment for projects that benefit local residents by improving community infrastructure.

An example of this community work is in Barriere, where staff from the ministry and Argo Road Maintenance teamed up to improve the ball field parking lot, band shell access and fall fair grounds, including site grading and installation of approximately 7,000 paver stones.

The ministry has also invested an additional $5 million this year to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists on highways in and near B.C. communities. 21 of these projects are in the Southern and Central Interior and all have been completed.

Examples of the projects include: improvements to a rest area in McLeese Lake, construction of a right-turn lane in Sparwood, and lighting upgrades in Lytton. These projects were chosen by the ministry through consultation with local governments and law enforcement.

Under B.C.'s Family Agenda, government is working hard to improve the safety of the road network that connects families across every region of British Columbia. To learn about more road safety actions, visit www.familiesfirstbc.ca.

Quotes:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Mary Polak -

"I'd like to thank the staff who volunteered their time to make these community-service projects possible for the benefit of communities around the province. These are grassroots projects that help to make our communities more liveable and enjoyable. It's inspiring to see ministry staff roll up their sleeves and help out."

"We want the highways that connect our communities to be as safe as possible. The safety-enhancement projects that we've completed this year were identified as priorities by local governments and police. They will improve safety on the road for families in communities throughout the province."

BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association President Jack Davidson -

"It's important to the men and women who work for our highway-maintenance contractors to help out with these local community-service projects. This volunteer work benefits everyone in the areas in which our members work and live, and it's another example of how our highway-maintenance contractors give back to the community."

Learn More:

Follow the work of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure online at www.tranbc.ca

A backgrounder follows.

BACKGROUNDER

Ministry/Maintenance Contractor Community Service Projects in the Southern and Central Interior

• Princeton: Grade approximately 10-15 km of the Trans-Canada Trail System, in co-operation with the Vermillion Trail Society, to make it smoother and safer for trail users. Supported by Argo Road Maintenance (South Okanagan) Inc.
• Princeton: Improve the surface of approximately 4.6 km of a forest-service road, in co-operation with the China Ridge Trail Society. This road is part of the China Ridge Trail system that accommodates hikers, bikers, hunters and skiers. Supported by Argo Road Maintenance (South Okanagan) Inc.
• Highway 3B Nancy Greene Summit, near Rossland: Improve and expand the pullout parallel to the highway at the Nancy Greene Summit. The pullout is the main access point to the world-renowned Seven Summits bike trail and is heavily used in the winter by back-country skiers and cross-country skiers. Supported by Emcon Services Inc.
• Creston: Improve and expand a parking lot on West Creston Road, providing access to a local wildlife management area and the Balancing Rock trail head. Supported by Yellowhead Road & Bridge (Kootenay) Ltd.
• Jaffray: Construct a pedestrian crossing over three large culverts to provide safe pedestrian passage behind an existing guard rail. This is part of a trail linking the town centre to a popular swimming and recreation area. Supported by Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting Ltd Partnership.
• Revelstoke: Construct a dedicated parking lot for the Revelstoke Bike Club by improving access off Highway 23 to local bike trails. This will provide space for up to 12 vehicles. Supported by HMC Services Inc.
• Golden: Improve access and existing parking for the Golden Bike Club, to provide safe parking for 10-15 vehicles at the trail head on the west end of Dogtooth Bridge. Supported by HMC Services Inc.
• Vernon: Placement of crushed gravel on the access trail to Kalamalka Lake Park, as well as large rocks to prevent vehicular access. Supported by Argo Road Maintenance (North Okanagan) Inc.
• Lower Nicola: In co-operation with a local volunteer group, improvements were made to Smith Pioneer Park. Supported by VSA Highway Maintenance Ltd.
• Barriere: Improvements to the ball field parking lot, band shell access and fall fair grounds, including site grading and installation of approximately 7,000 paver stones. Supported by Argo Road Maintenance (Thompson) Inc.
• Bridge Lake: Improvements to the Roe-Hall rodeo ground, including construction of a wheelchair-accessible trail. Supported by Interior Roads Ltd.
• Anahim Lake: Installation of picnic tables at the Anahim Lake community hall/rodeo grounds. Supported by Interior Roads Ltd.
• McLeese Lake: Providing new pre-cast concrete panels for the McLeese Lake boat ramp area, for a new running surface along the ramp. Supported by HMC Services Inc.

Highway safety improvements in the southern and central Interior

The following safety improvement projects are complete:

• Clearwater: Highway 5 and Clearwater Village road safety improvements, including enhanced signage and delineation.
• Clearwater and Barriere: Purchase of a portable speed reader board to better inform drivers of their speed while passing through the communities on Highway 5.
• Fernie: Purchase two portable speed-reader boards in various locations around Fernie.
• Grand Forks: Install an electronic speed-warning sign on Highway 3 immediately east of the Yale Bridge in Grand Forks. Sign to be activated by excessive vehicle speed and will flash to warn motorists to slow down as they approach a sharp curve.
• Green Lake: Improve the existing school-bus pullout on Green Lake South Road, improving safety for school children.
• Invermere: Construct a 600-m pedestrian trail along Athalmer Road in Invermere, expanding of the existing trail system.
• Kamloops: Improve safety with inlaid durable pavement markings on Highway 1.
• Kelowna: Improve a right-turn deceleration lane northbound and add right-signal activation at Highway 97 and Commonwealth Road.
• Lillooet: Upgrade signs on Highway 99, increasing visibility and reflectivity between Cache Creek and Lillooet.
• Logan Lake: Install a pedestrian-activated traffic light at Chartrand Ave and Highway 97D in Logan Lake. This intersection is in close proximity to the elementary school, recreation complex, walking trails, campground and shopping.
• Lytton: Improve lighting at Highway 12 and St. Georges Road intersection by installing a streetlight.
• McLeese Rest Area: Upgrade the existing pullout near the current rest area located on Highway 97 approximately 10 km south of McLeese Lake, by purchasing and installing new restroom facilities and trash containers.
• Merritt: Enhance the pedestrian signal, install flashing beacons and improve lighting at Nicola (Highway 8) and Garcia.
• Nelson: Upgrade the Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) ravine bridge, part of the Rails to Trails system, allowing it to reopen to pedestrian and emergency/maintenance vehicles.
• 93 Mile: Construct east- and west-bound school-bus pullouts on Highway 24 at the Machete Lake Road intersection, improving safety for school children.
• 100 Mile House: Enhance school-bus/mailbox pullout at Horse Lake Road and Wolfe Road.
• Penticton: Improve the curve warning signage and install electronic speed-warning signs on Highway 97 at Vaseux Lake.
• Sorrento: Install curb, crosswalk and lighting 100m east of Notch Hill intersection on Highway 1.
• Sparwood: Upgrade high visibility reflectors along barriers on Highway 3 east of Sparwood to the Alberta border, and add curve warning signs, improving safety on this corridor.
• Sparwood: Construct right-turn lane on Highway 43 at Sparwood Heights Drive.
• Trail: Collaborate with City of Trail to install hardware to discourage roosting of pigeon population over the sidewalk on the Trail Bridge. This creates a cleaner area for the public.

Contact:

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241