Cariboo North MLA calls for action on problematic roads

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure provided a statement, reading in part:

Protecting people, their homes, and their ability to get around safely is a critical priority of the BC government.
As we all witness the effects of climate change across the province, the Cariboo is being particularly hard-hit by changing weather patterns.
The unusually high water table caused unprecedented slides and washouts in Fall 2020, even though these conditions typically only occur in the Spring. With the spring thaw now underway we are responding to further flooding and damage.
Transportation infrastructure was impacted by freshet, landslides, or debris flows at over 200 sites in 2020 and this trend is continuing into 2021. Of those 2020 sites, 175 have been repaired and planning or engineering is underway for the remaining sites.
In 2020, the Ministry invested $30M 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, $5.6M was proactively invested over the past 6 months to increase supply of rip rap, culverts, and other response materials, along with strengthening side roads and ditching for flood mitigation. Cariboo north has almost 4,000 culverts and 110 were upgraded/installed in addition to 169km of ditching in 2020.
Budget ’21 allocates $737 million for highways – including the highest provincial preservation investment in B.C. with $6M in funding specifically allocated to culverts in recognition of the impacts of climate change. A further $46M increase in sideroad funding (bringing the total sideroad investment for 2021/22 to $162M Provincially) will also help to replace and enhance drainage infrastructure as part of broader road surface improvement projects.
We are working hard to quickly fix roadways that are damaged, and to prevent damage in the future, so families can be safe in their homes and on the roads in the Cariboo and throughout B.C.

by Caden Fanshaw

Cariboo North MLA calls for action on problematic roads

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