Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
National

Highways prepared for extreme weather 'new normal,' says B.C. transportation minister

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Nov, 2023 02:51 PM
  • Highways prepared for extreme weather 'new normal,' says B.C. transportation minister

British Columbia's transportation minister says 130 kilometres of highway that was severely damaged by flooding two years ago is now more resilient to extreme weather.

Rob Fleming says the stretch of the Coquihalla Highway, or Highway 5, between Hope and Merritt, B.C., is an example of a "new normal" for how infrastructure needs to be built.

A series of atmospheric rivers in November 2021 triggered mudslides and washed out highways and bridges that blocked almost every route between B.C.'s Lower Mainland and the Interior.

Fleming says the cost to repair the damage caused to Highways 1, 5 and 8 is somewhere between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, but 70 to 90 per cent of that is expected to be covered by the federal government's disaster assistance program.

Jennifer Fraser, executive project director for the highway reinstatement program, says six bridges on the Coquihalla were replaced over 17 months.

She says some bridges have been made longer to allow more water to pass underneath, and crews strategically placed rocks and vegetation to help fight erosion.

Fraser says the bridges are also on stronger supports, with the longest pile being driven 65 metres into the ground.

Fleming says one of B.C.'s most important trade corridors is now better able to resist future climate events.

"Our infrastructure has to be able to withstand extreme weather conditions. This is the new normal for the safety of our residents and the movement of goods throughout the province. This is an important infrastructure priority for British Columbia."

MORE National ARTICLES

Road closures due to Whalley collision

Road closures due to Whalley collision
On Thursday at after 1:30pm Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a semi-truck in the southbound lanes of King George boulevard just north of 104 Avenue. The pedestrian has been transported to hospital with serious injuries. There are single lane closures on both on the northbound and southbound side of King George boulevard between 104 Avenue and 105 Avenue. 

Road closures due to Whalley collision

Federal effort to boost child care in three provinces off to 'slow start': report

Federal effort to boost child care in three provinces off to 'slow start': report
The report by Cardus looking at the roll out of the programs in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick found that issues ranging from unspent funding to skilled labour shortages led to missed child care targets. The federal government signed separate, five-year funding agreements with provinces and territories in 2021, committing up to $30 billion in five years toward the establishment of $10-a-day child care.  

Federal effort to boost child care in three provinces off to 'slow start': report

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO
The parliamentary budget officer says a single-payer universal drug plan would cost federal and provincial governments an additional$11.2 billion in the first year, and $13.4 billion in five years. The PBO released a report on Thursday that provides an estimate for the cost of a pharmacare program between 2024-25 and 2027-28. It follows up on a previous costing the PBO published in 2017 for a pharmacare plan. 

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling
The Supreme Court of Canada's refusal to hear a Hells Angels challenge of B.C.'s forfeiture of three clubhouses will "put criminals on notice," the province's pubic safety minister says. The high court ended a years-long court battle on Thursday as it refused to hear an appeal of the seizure of the clubhouses in East Vancouver, Nanaimo, and Kelowna.

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling

Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza as Canadian flights leave

Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza as Canadian flights leave
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is giving an initial $10 million in humanitarian assistance for urgent needs in Israel and the Gaza Strip. He also says the first airlift of 130 Canadians that left Tel Aviv earlier today has landed in Athens.

Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza as Canadian flights leave

'New wave of building' in Vancouver comes as mayor makes plans to focus on more homes

'New wave of building' in Vancouver comes as mayor makes plans to focus on more homes
The mayor of Vancouver set out a foundation on Wednesday to address the housing crisis in the city, while reducing barriers to building and streamlining regulations. Ken Sim released a seven-point motion going before council that would direct city staff to prioritize new housing construction, allow for increased density around transit hubs, speed up a plan for 26 villages in the city and increase enforcement of short-term rental regulations. 

'New wave of building' in Vancouver comes as mayor makes plans to focus on more homes