Starting Monday, July 27, 2020, Emil Anderson Maintenance Co. Ltd. will assume highway maintenance in the Skeena region (Service Area 26).

The region includes provincial roadways in and around Terrace and Kitimat, including highways 113 (Nisga’a Highway) and 37 South, as well as segments of Highway 16. 

The highway maintenance contract will be effective until March 31, 2029, with an option for a five-year extension. Emil Anderson Maintenance Co. Ltd. has provided highway maintenance services in B.C. since 1996 and is also the highway maintenance contractor for the Fraser Valley (Service Area 7).

Private companies are contracted to the Government of B.C. to maintain provincial highways and roadways, providing an essential service to the people who live and work in the province. Each contractor is responsible for repairs and maintenance of driving surfaces and bridges, as well as roadside upkeep and winter maintenance.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s maintenance contracts for all service areas require high standards and a proactive approach when a severe weather event occurs, including:

• frequent communication with the public about rapidly changing road conditions during severe weather events and other incidents affecting travel on B.C. roads;
• returning Class A highways to bare pavement within 24 hours of a winter weather event, at -9 C or warmer;
• patrols every 90 minutes on a Class A highway during winter storms; and
• patrols every four hours when a weather event is forecasted.

The ministry works closely with contractors and WorkSafeBC to ensure health and safety are maintained for all workers on site.

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. Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, such as sore throat, fever, sneezing or coughing, will be directed to self-isolate at home for at least 10 days.

Quick Facts:

• Highway maintenance contractors maintain nearly 47,000 kilometres of road and 2,800 bridges in some of the most challenging terrain in Canada.
• The value of these 28 highway maintenance agreements is approximately $400 million annually.

Learn More:

For more information on Service Area 26, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/transportation-infrastructure/highway-bridge-maintenance/highway-maintenance/boundary-maps/sa26_boundary_map_20190110.pdf

For more information on the ministry's highway maintenance contracts, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-infrastructure/contracting-to-transportation/highway-bridge-maintenance/highway-maintenance/contacts

For travel 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