The series of improvements from Bunce Road to Blackwater Road on Highway 16 West have been completed, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said Thursday.
The project features a new four-laned segment and a new median barrier to prevent crossover collisions. The upgrades also provide safer opportunities for highway merging, exiting and passing.
Specific improvements include 3.4 kilometres of new four-laning on Highway 16 from Bunce Road to east of Jensen Road and intersection upgrades at:
- Bunce Road/Gauthier Road including a new deceleration lane onto Gauthier Road
- Haldi Road including a reconfiguration to prevent left turns from Haldi Road onto the highway.
- Blackwater Road, Sykes Road West/East including adding new traffic signals.
It also features an extension of Buckingham Road to connect with Purdue Road West and extended pedestrian underpass, new sidewalk and sidewalk lighting at Bunce Road.
The $22.8-million project was cost shared, with the federal government providing $8.4 million, the provincial government providing $13.8 million and the city providing $600,000.
"People who live and work in this area have been asking for upgrades to make it safer and to deal with congestion," said Claire Trevena, B.C.'s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. "That's why we made this project a priority and it is a great example of what can be accomplished when all levels of government work together."
