Work will soon begin at the intersection of highways 93 and 95 to replace the existing four-way stop with a roundabout, improving safety and traffic flow through the area.

“We are making historic investments in good projects that create jobs in the short term and help communities such as Radium Hot Springs build safer and more efficient roadways,” said Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “We are pleased to see this important project get underway as soon as possible and look forward to continue working together to build a better, more prosperous and more resilient British Columbia and Canada.”

Several times a year – particularly on long weekends and during the summer – this junction experiences high traffic volumes, resulting in lengthy delays and queues in excess of two kilometres. Replacing the four-way stop with a new roundabout will help keep traffic moving more efficiently and will cut down on delays.

“BC’s Restart Plan is the first in a series of steps that we will take together to protect people and ensure that our province can come back from COVID-19 stronger than before,” said Claire Trevena, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “This includes good construction-based jobs for people and investing in key projects that will help stimulate economic recovery for British Columbia. We are moving forward with several important highway projects this summer, including this roundabout for Radium, which will improve safety and prevent delays during the usually busy summer months.”

Work is expected to get underway in June, and the project is slated for completion by the end of 2020. A contract for the construction has been awarded to Copcan Civil Ltd. of Nanaimo. During construction, every effort will be made to minimize disruption and impacts to local traffic, and updates will be provided via DriveBC.

Businesses will remain pedestrian and vehicle accessible throughout project construction, either through existing or temporary access ways.

B.C.’s provincial health officer has directed construction employers to take all necessary precautions to minimize the risks of COVID-19 transmission and illness to themselves and their employees. This includes ensuring workers maintain physical distance with a minimum of two metres apart from each other, both in the course of their duties as well as during breaks. Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 like symptoms will be directed to self-isolate at home for at least 10 days.

This project is cost shared. The federal contribution of up to $4.8 million is part of a $17.9-million suite of projects under the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-National and Regional Projects. The B.C. government is providing $7.1 million toward this intersection improvement.

Quick Facts:

• The intersection of highways 93 and 95 sees more than 9,000 vehicles daily, increasing to more than 14,000 every day during summer months.
• An open house and online engagement were held in September 2019, giving people an opportunity to provide input on the project.

Learn More:

For guidance to construction sites operating during COVID-19, visit: http://ow.ly/P7WS50z8hNT

For travel restrictions and precautions due to COVID-19, visit: http://ow.ly/jBGu50yVMRO

For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

For more information on this intersection improvement project, including a video rendering of the roundabout, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-infrastructure/projects/radiumroundabout

For the most up-to-date highway travel information, go to @DriveBC on Twitter or visit: DriveBC.ca