Highway maintenance in B.C. could soon get big overhaul

[oneh2obabe]

Every winter in B.C. brings stories of highway crashes in poor road conditions — and with it, demands that tougher regulations be instituted for contractors that maintain major roads.

The former won't change anytime soon, but over the next 19 months, higher maintenance standards will be rolled out for virtually every highway in the province.

"This is one of the biggest issues of safety we hear all the time, and it is obviously a very real concern," said Transportation Minister Claire Trevena.

"I've asked that we improve the maintenance standards, so they will be higher, and the maintenance contracts will have to live up to them."

More patrols and remove potholes

In total, 26 of the 28 contracts for the province are being renewed between now and Oct. 2019, covering roughly all areas of the province outside the East Kootenays and the stretch of Highways 16 and 5 between McBride and Clearwater.

Balance of article
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4560612

[Glacier]

I notice that they salted the highways last night. Wow, what a waste of money! Why not save the money for more gravel when the highways are actually slippery!

[daveandanne]

I thought all of the incidents were caused by drivers not driving to conditions. So one has to wonder why all the money and reviews, salt, sand, plows and speed limit postings are being pursued and reviewed. Have we been misled all of these years or is it one or two incidents were caused by some other reasons?. Some say it is never the weather, roads, ice, sleet, sand, salt, Mother Nature semis, altitude, curves, fog, darkness, speed and untold other issues so why is it now being looked at for road maintenance?. Are we missing something here?.

[seewood]

I thought all of the incidents were caused by drivers not driving to conditions.

Nope, not true. Perhaps many might be but certainly not all.

[Glacier]

Nope, not true. Perhaps many might be but certainly not all.

The problem with sanding and salting the road is that everyone drives like the road is graveled. If you miss one section, SLIPPPPP... BANG! If you didn't gravel at all, people would drive to the worst case, not the best case.

[Gone_Fishin]

Every winter in B.C. brings stories of highway crashes in poor road conditions — and with it, demands that tougher regulations be instituted for contractors that maintain major roads.

The former won't change anytime soon, but over the next 19 months, higher maintenance standards will be rolled out for virtually every highway in the province.

"This is one of the biggest issues of safety we hear all the time, and it is obviously a very real concern," said Transportation Minister Claire Trevena.

"I've asked that we improve the maintenance standards, so they will be higher, and the maintenance contracts will have to live up to them."

More patrols and remove potholes

In total, 26 of the 28 contracts for the province are being renewed between now and Oct. 2019, covering roughly all areas of the province outside the East Kootenays and the stretch of Highways 16 and 5 between McBride and Clearwater.

Balance of article
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4560612

Translated: NDP wants to/has to pay off their public sector union supporters, so expect a regression back to the costly disaster of the 1990s when maintenance was done in-house with no accountability for the quality of work done, at a lower efficiency and higher cost to taxpayers.

[Hurtlander]

Translated: NDP wants to/has to pay off their public sector union supporters, so expect a regression back to the costly disaster of the 1990s when maintenance was done in-house with no accountability for the quality of work done, at a lower efficiency and higher cost to taxpayers.

1: Highway maintenance was privatized in 1988..
2: The highways will remain being privately maintained, but under stricter standards, as per the article..
But that’s OK, keep bringing us your fake news, it’s entertaining..

[Queen K]

Every winter in B.C. brings stories of highway crashes in poor road conditions — and with it, demands that tougher regulations be instituted for contractors that maintain major roads.

The former won't change anytime soon, but over the next 19 months, higher maintenance standards will be rolled out for virtually every highway in the province.

"This is one of the biggest issues of safety we hear all the time, and it is obviously a very real concern," said Transportation Minister Claire Trevena.

"I've asked that we improve the maintenance standards, so they will be higher, and the maintenance contracts will have to live up to them."

More patrols and remove potholes

In total, 26 of the 28 contracts for the province are being renewed between now and Oct. 2019, covering roughly all areas of the province outside the East Kootenays and the stretch of Highways 16 and 5 between McBride and Clearwater.

Balance of article
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4560612

Translated: NDP wants to/has to pay off their public sector union supporters, so expect a regression back to the costly disaster of the 1990s when maintenance was done in-house with no accountability for the quality of work done, at a lower efficiency and higher cost to taxpayers.

Are you referring to the two contracts not being renewed to the same company as per the article?

There is nothing to say they are going back to government oversight Gone_Fishin, are assuming they are? Maybe the contracts are going to different companies for undisclosed reasons?

And if the contracts were to be done at union wages, maybe, just maybe the costs would be higher but at a lower social cost? Higher wages may mean less dependency on social services and subsidies? ie healthcare and housing? Would you consider that a fair statement?

[Hurtlander]

Mind you, increasing maintenance standards won’t fix stupid..
https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-s ... htm#220331

[Glacier]

"You can't fix stupid."
~ Bsuds

[christopher]

How bout just finishing the 4 lane on the TC

[flamingfingers]

How bout just finishing the 4 lane on the TC

Will that reduce avalanche risk on that highway?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4539370

[christopher]

How bout just finishing the 4 lane on the TC

Will that reduce avalanche risk on that highway?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4539370

No but it will cut down the time it is shut down

[flamingfingers]

^^Really? How?

[christopher]

^^Really? How?

Gee maybe when something happens on one side of the road the other side is open and capable of handling 2 way traffic. Really