A co-ordinated effort to ensure people have safe, reliable roads in the region is underway as work to repair flooding and damage continues at over 100 road sites in the Cariboo.

Approximately 200 people from the ministry and its contractors are working on the spring freshet response. In addition, 90 pieces of heavy equipment have been deployed throughout the Cariboo to repair damaged sites.

“People in the Cariboo are understandably concerned with flooding in the region and the damage it is having on the roads,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “We are working hard to quickly fix roadways that are damaged and to prevent damage in the future, so families can be safe on the roads in the Cariboo and throughout B.C. Thank you to the crews that have been working long hours to repair the damaged roads and create safer driving conditions for people in this region.”

A District Operations Centre (DOC) was established in Williams Lake on May 10, 2021, to support this emergency and facilitate a co-ordinated response. The DOC is staffed with local and other area subject-matter experts to support the crews working to fix damaged roadways. These work crews are also ensuring the repairs consider how future damage might be prevented.

During the spring freshet, people can go to DriveBC.ca – click the “B.C. flooding information” link in the sidebar and see a list of Cariboo side roads closed or impacted. The site includes photos of work underway to repair roads.

People with questions about a particular Cariboo road, or a side road they do not see listed, can call the DOC’s toll-free line – 1 844 933-0333 – for the most up-to-date information. This phone line is strictly for road information in the Cariboo during the spring freshet.

To date, over 40 sites have been repaired. These include:

• Dog Creek Road – completed a culvert installation and ditch work at the Roberts Drive intersection;
• Northern Ranches Road – repaired soft road surface areas by placing rock in the road base and capping with crushed gravel; and
• Quesnel – Hixon Road (near Landry Road) – placed protective riprap on the bank of the river and hauled gravel to repair soft spots on the road.

To report a road-related emergency or maintenance concern in the 100 Mile or Williams Lake area, call Dawson Road Maintenance, toll-free, at 1 800 842-4122. In the North Cariboo, call Emcon Services, toll-free, at 1 866 353-3136.

Quick Facts:

• In 2020, the ministry invested $30 million in freshet repairs and upgrades throughout the Cariboo and is on track to make a similar or higher level of investment this year. 
• With help from StrongerBC, $5.6 million has been proactively invested over the past six months to increase supply of riprap, culverts and other response materials, along with strengthening side roads and ditches for flood mitigation. 
• Through Budget 2021, the ministry is investing $819 million into highway corridor rehabilitation throughout the province.

Learn More:

For travel restrictions and precautions due to COVID-19, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/travel/current

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

For a direct link to B.C. flooding information and a listing of side road closures, visit: https://www.tranbc.ca/current-travel-advisories/

To learn more about spring freshets, visit:
https://www.tranbc.ca/2011/05/11/what-is-freshet-hint-its-not-an-air-freshener/

To view photos of repair sites, go to: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/albums/72157719044969991