New maintenance contracts awarded for northern highways

Apr 30, 2019 | 2:50 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The provincial government has awarded new maintenance contracts for northern highways which it asserts will include stricter safety measures.

Two contractors won the 10-year contracts for service areas 19, 22 and 23, each of which the Province says has an optional five-year extension.

The contract for service area 23, which covers provincial roadways for Vanderhoof and Fort St. James, including highways 16 and 27, went to Yellowhead Road & Bridge (Vanderhoof) Ltd. and starts tomorrow (May 1).

Yellowhead Road & Bridge was also renewed as the contractor for Service Area 19 and is for provincial roadways for Prince George and Mackenzie, including highways 16,97, and 39. The new contract goes into effect on June 1.

Service Area 22 was awarded to Interior Roads and covers provincial highways for Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Hudson’s Hope, including highways 97, 29 and 77. That contract goes into effect on June 1.

“The new maintenance contracts for all service areas require higher standards and a more proactive approach when a severe weather event occurs,” says the Ministry of Transportation.

The ministry says some of those improvements include:

  • Return Highway 16, Highway 97 and other Class A highways to bare pavement within 24 hours of a winter weather event. The previous standard was 48 hours at temperatures of -9 C or warmer.
  • When a weather event is forecast to occur, increase the patrol frequency to four hours in anticipation of the weather event. The previous standard was 24 hours.
  • When a weather event is forecast to occur, increase the patrol frequency to four hours in anticipation of the weather event. The previous standard was 24 hours.
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