People travelling along Highway 16 between Vanderhoof and Burns Lake will soon have a new rest area, adding to the more than 170 rest areas strategically located throughout B.C.

The Savory Rest Area, located approximately 45 kilometres east of Burns Lake, will officially open next week. It offers travellers a safe and convenient place to take a break.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the province’s transportation network has been critical to keeping supply chains open, and our commercial vehicle operators have been doing a great job delivering supplies,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “We want to do everything we can to make the drive along our networks safe, reliable and comfortable for drivers. This new rest area will provide a convenient and safe place for them to pull over to take a break from the road.”

This new rest area serves people travelling westbound, while the existing Tintagel Rest Area, 15 kilometres east of Burns Lake, serves those travelling eastbound. Both rest areas are open year-round and have washroom and picnic facilities, as well as parking for commercial and non-commercial vehicles.

“As we move forward into recovery from COVID-19, people will be eager to get back on our roads, visit friends and family, and enjoy the beauty of British Columbia,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “We continued to safely build and maintain our highways and related infrastructure during the pandemic, and now we’re looking forward to British Columbians travelling comfortably on safe roadways to those communities wishing to welcome non-essential travel again.”

The $2.3-million project began construction in August 2019. It included the construction of the new rest area, widening of approximately 420 metres of Highway 16 to accommodate a deceleration lane and creation of a left-hand turn into the rest area.

“Rest stops play a key role in providing motorists with a place to pull over, to use the facilities, rest tired eyes or have a picnic while enjoying the beauty of the area,” said Dolores Funk, mayor, Village of Burns Lake. “We welcome the addition of the Savory Rest Area to the Highway 16 network, and we would like to thank the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for its continued investment in and around Burns Lake.”

An interactive map featuring all provincial rest area locations, along with web cams and current road and weather conditions, can be found at: www.DriveBC.ca

Learn More:

For active highway and infrastructure projects in northern B.C., visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/17700

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

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