B.C. Transportation minister Stone: No word yet on Revelstoke’s roundabout funding

The roundabout has been installed, winter is coming, and City of Revelstoke is waiting on the Ministry of Transportation’s offer of funding for the project that went more than $600,000 over budget estimations.

The roundabout on Wright Street and Victoria Road was installed this spring as a priority to relieve congestion in the area near the Trans-Canada Highway as our summer tourism period grows busier every year.

A concept image of the roundabout to be installed at Wright Street in the fall 2016. Photo: McElhanney Consulting Services

There was controversy over the project’s cost — it came in at $1.86 million, more than $600,000 over the city’s budget of $1.2 million and was awarded to local company Speers Construction, who were not the cheapest bidder. There was much discussion in the local community over whether a roundabout was worth the price tag and if it would have a positive impact.

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone was in Revelstoke on Wednesday, Nov. 9 for a meet and greet and told the Mountaineer that the ministry will be contributing funds.

The city has expected this although they took a gamble in going ahead with construction without having secured all the funds as it was a high-priority project.

“The commitment that I made to council this morning is, the province will be a funding partner,” Stone said. “They will contribute some investment to that project recognizing that there is some benefit to the provincial highway as a result of the project.”

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone was in Revelstoke on Wednesday Nov. 9. From left: Mayor Mark McKee, Todd Stone and Doug Clovechok. Photo: Emily Kemp/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Stone wouldn’t say how much MOTI will contribute, but he hopes it will be revealed sometime over the next four weeks. This project is unique as MOTI does not usually invest in municipal infrastructure projects.

“When we do it is only when we are convinced that there is a benefit to the province as a result of the improvements — safety benefit is what we’re most interested in,” Stone said.

“I’m convinced that there will be benefits because this is going to help remove the backlog of vehicles [in Revelstoke] that often queues up onto the Trans-Canada and the highway.”

What else is being done on the Trans-Canada

Residents may have noticed a number of changes on the Trans-Canada highway around Revelstoke this year as a number of MOTI projects were completed.

A new variable speed limit sign is unveiled in Revelstoke on June 15. From left: Golden mayor Ron Oszust, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone, Revelstoke mayor Mark McKee, Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo, and a highway enforcement officer. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Variable speed zone technology – A $12.5 million project where 18 speed signs from Perry River, Malakwa (west of Revelstoke) to Revelstoke were installed this summer. They run off an extensive system of traffic, pavement and visibility sensors that are calibrated to detect the conditions, such as bad weather or approaching construction, and provide a recommended speed to operations staff.

Avalanche technology in Three Valley Gap – installation of the first four of eight new remote avalanche control systems completed this month in this project worth $6 million. This state-of-the-art technology will be operational the beginning of this winter to help better manage avalanches. The other four controls will be installed in the 2017 spring.

“Ultimately we need four lanes [in Three Valley Gap] but that’s a big challenging project,” Stone said. “I’ve looked at the options and it’s going to cost a lot, but more importantly, technically, it’s extremely challenging. You’ve got very limited options through there.

“But in the interim we can do more to better manage avalanches with the goal being to reduce the frequency and duration of road closures from big avalanches.”

Previously, the ministry relied on helicopters to set explosive charges there, but their flight is limited by weather conditions and daylight.

Automax technology – helps moderate traffic after a closure, with signals. If an intersection gets a line-up of vehicles, Automax will detect it, using loops installed in the pavement. Traffic-signal timing is adjusted automatically to relieve intersection congestion. There have been two installed in Golden and one in Revelstoke.

“This will help get the traffic through Revelstoke faster,” Stone said.

Upcoming Trans-Canada projects near Revelstoke

Two upcoming projects that will have some impact on Revelstoke residents are the Kicking Horse Canyon Highway Improvement Project Phase 4 and the Illecillewaet four-lane project.

Kicking Horse is waiting on approval with federal government to go ahead with this $450 million project for the final four kilometres of the lane widening project.

“It costs us $10 million a kilometre [for] four lanes,” Stone said. “This is going to cost us $105 million per kilometre. But it’s gotta get done. [It’s] absolutely critical.”

Winter highway scene. BC transportation ministry photo

Stone said that every year there are tragic collisions due to the treacherous driving conditions, and the upgrade, while improving efficiency will have a significant safety benefit.

“It’s a very very dangerous section of the highway.”

Illecillewaet highway project – This $35 million project is a 2.5 kilometre stretch that will widen the highway to four-lanes and also add a ponding location, which is a big area on the side of the highway that people can park if the road is closed for vehicles heading east, and trucks can turn around.

“Right now, if there is a road closure, then you’re typically stuck on the highway, and it just goes for miles,” Stone said.