Design work is starting on a dedicated left-turn lane on Highway 1 at Gardi Road, approximately 20 kilometres west of Kamloops, to improve safety for the travelling public including local residents, tourists and commercial users, announced Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone earlier today.

The addition of a westbound left-turn lane will protect local residents by providing a safe exit from Highway 1 onto Gardi Road, which serves residents of the Cherry Creek area. The area consists mainly of residences, farms and ranches. The project will also include the realignment of approximately 100 metres of Cherry Creek Station Road, in order to ensure a properly aligned and more efficient intersection.

With the design phase expected to be completed in April 2015, construction of the project is slated to begin this fall. These safety improvements represent a local investment of approximately $2.2 million as part of the province’s larger B.C. on the Move initiative and its commitment to invest $30 million in intersection improvements over the next three years.

B.C. on the Move is government’s new 10-year plan for the improvement of the province’s transportation network. It provides a comprehensive road map for transportation investments and strategic policy actions over the next decade. The actions prioritized in B.C. on the Move will grow the economy, maintain and replace aging infrastructure, and support trade for B.C.’s expanding resource sectors through Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway.

Over the next three years, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will invest almost $2.5 billion to improve British Columbia’s transportation network.

B.C. on the Move was developed incorporating feedback received from a wide-ranging public engagement, during which over 12,500 survey responses were received from British Columbians across the province, and the B.C. on the Move website was visited over 44,000 times.

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure  Todd Stone -

“As one of a number of improvements included in B.C. on the Move, the work being done at the Gardi Road intersection will make this vital corridor in our region safer for all motorists. Improving highway safety is a key priority of my ministry’s 10-year Transportation Plan, and this new left turn lane is an excellent example of this plan in action.”

TNRD director Ronaye Elliot -

“I am delighted to see the left-hand lane at Gardi Road is part of Minister Stone’s new safety program. I know the people of Cherry Creek will be much relieved to see this improvement happen this year.”

To view the photo from the announcement, please click on the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgovphotos/16903905400/

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241