Contracts worth more than $8 million have been awarded by the province, to resurface and rehabilitate approximately 60 kilometres of road along Hwy. 16.
Highway 16, from Richmond Loop to the Tintagel Rest area is to be revamped.
Pavement milling will address rutting and cracking of the travelled lanes and the project will also include shoulder widening up to one metre where possible.
This project was awarded to Dawson Construction Ltd. and includes 11 kilometres of Hwy. 16 east of Burns Lake.
The contract is worth $2,995,801 and work is expected to start Aug. 2, 2011 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.
A Fort Fraser to Engen Road project will begin mid May and run through to mid July.
Approximately 24 kilometres of Hwy. 16 will be resurfaced in this area with hot-in-place recycling [a process of heating and re-using the existing pavement to make a smooth surface].
This work was awarded to ARC Asphalt Recycling Inc. and will begin five kilometres west of Fort Fraser and head east to Engen.
The third rehabilitation project to be awarded along Hwy. 16 will benefit the area from Moricetown to Nouch Road. Approximately 24 kilometres of highway will be resurfaced with hot-in-place recycling. This contract was also awarded to ARC Asphalt Recycling Inc.
Work is expected to start August 2 and be completed near the end of September.
These three rehabilitation projects will improve ride quality and safety for all highway traffic. Widened shoulders will also improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists near Burns Lake.
MLA John Rustad said, "Highway 16 is a vital stretch through our region connecting towns and cities and providing key road links for industry.”
“The focus on mountain pine beetle harvesting and associated wear and tear on the pavement has meant that these three sections require resurfacing. It's great to see our Northern roads continuing to get the rehabilitation work they need, so that drivers can travel safely," he said.