Two projects are set to get underway this paving season that will provide smoother, safer access between Courtenay and Campbell River, and extend the life of the road surface.

“This paving work will provide a more even surface for travellers along this highway and into communities while also extending the life of our infrastructure,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “Whether it’s a rural side road or well-travelled highway like Highway 19, our government’s investment in rehabilitation is benefitting residents, businesses, commercial drivers, and commuters in the North Island region.”

On Highway 19, the travel or ‘slow’ lanes in both directions between the Comox Valley Parkway and Jubilee Parkway will be resurfaced using hot-in-place (HIP) recycle paving. Between the Jubilee Parkway and 14th Street in Campbell River, sections of the travel lanes in both directions will be repaired and then resurfaced using the ‘mill-and-fill’ technique. In total, about 50 kilometres of Highway 19 will be resurfaced in each direction. In addition, approximately 15 kilometres of local side roads including sections of Comox Road, Anderton Road, and Ryan Road will also receive HIP treatment. 

“This part of the Highway 19 is an important corridor for commercial traffic and local residents,” said Comox Valley MLA Don McRae. “It’s vital that we keep this road in top condition.”

For the hot-in-place recycle paving, a $6.7-million contract has been awarded to ARC Asphalt Recycling Inc. of Kamloops, and O.K. Industries Ltd. of Courtenay has been awarded a $2.5-million contract for the mill-and-fill resurfacing. Work on both projects will begin this spring and be completed by early fall 2017.

Rehabilitating highways, bridges and side roads is a key priority in B.C. on the Move, the Province’s 10-year transportation plan. The ministry plans to invest over $386 million over three years to resurface provincial highways.

Quick Facts:

• Hot-in-place recycle paving produces up to 50% fewer emissions than conventional paving, as it reuses and recycles the existing asphalt material right on the project site. This made-in-British Columbia technology has been used to rehabilitate the top layer of asphalt since 1986.
• Mill-and-fill resurfacing is used when the pavement surface has deteriorated to the point where cracks, stresses and structural defects have made their way below the surface. Paving crews remove the damaged asphalt by grinding it off, and then compacting in fresh asphalt using the left-over milled asphalt.
• Both these methods help extend the asphalt life cycle. Hot-in-place recycle paving lasts an average of eight to 12 years, while mill-and-fill resurfacing projects can last approximately 15 to 18 years.

Learn more:

For up-to-date traffic advisories, visit: www.drivebc.ca

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