March 14, 2014 - 4:09 PM
COLDSTREAM - Highway 6 has received $11 million worth of upgrades to improve road safety and a better flow of traffic. Approximately 2.2 kilometres of Highway 6 between Grey and Ricardo roads have been realigned and resurfaced. New railway crossing signals have been added, domestic and irrigation waterlines have been improved and stream upgrades will allow fish better passage through an enlarged culvert at Coldstream Creek.
“These upgrades improve safety and mobility for British Columbians travelling this stretch of highway,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster. “The straighter alignment, wider shoulders and intersection improvements will significantly reduce the chance of crashes along this stretch of highway.”
Background:
- This project has had incredible support from local communities, governments and First Nations.
- Annual traffic volumes are in the order of 9,000 vehicles per day on Highway 6 in this area.
This location was identified as a high crash area. Over a 10 year period, between 2000 and 2009, there were 119 reported crashes. The 2.2-kilometre project started 900 metres west of Grey Road on Highway 6 and extended to 300 metres east of Ricardo Road.
This section of highway has now been re-aligned to straighten out the previous curves near Kalamalka Road, a stretch of highway that had a significant crash history. Wider shoulders were also created through this stretch.
These upgrades will improve safety and mobility for traffic.
Crews also completed upgrades to the intersections at Grey, Kalamalka, and Ricardo roads, creating new left and right turn lanes — making turning easier and safer for motorists.
The contractor was Windley Contracting Limited from Nanaimo.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014