Two highway improvement projects in Prince George are being planned for this summer, announced MLA for Prince George-Valemount Shirley Bond, on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone.

“We are continually looking at ways to increase the safety and reliability of roads and highways in and around Prince George,” said Bond. “Engineering is well underway on two projects that will be starting construction in the coming months.”

As part of the Highway 16 arterial planning study which is currently underway between the ministry and the City of Prince George, the first project to increase safety on this corridor has been identified. This will see improvements made to the intersection at Highway 16 and Kimball Road with the addition of signals and a right turn lane travelling westbound. The project is expected to go to tender in early summer with construction completing in the fall.

The comprehensive planning study will provide recommendations for improvements to the Highway 16 corridor to access the growing western side of Prince George, including the College Heights neighbourhood from Highway 97 to the upcoming Bunce to Blackwater four-laning project. The study will take into account traffic volumes and composition, traffic movements, and access with city side roads, in order to provide the appropriate conceptual options for the corridor.

Another project getting underway this summer is the extension of the access from Pine Centre Mall onto Highway 97. Construction will extend the current yield lane into a full merge lane. Work on this $450,000 project is expected to start in July.

“It’s great to see work progressing on projects that will increase safety and efficiency on the Highway 16 arterial,” said MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie Mike Morris. “This partnership with the City of Prince George is proving to be an effective and efficient way to get these projects moving quickly.”

These projects are part of B.C. on the Move, the B.C. government’s 10-year transportation plan for the improvement of the province’s transportation network. Over the next three years, the ministry and its partners are investing over $4.6 billion in priority transportation investments as part of this plan.

Learn More:

B.C. on the Move is available online at www.gov.bc.ca/bconthemove