Chetwynd Mayor Evan Saugstad, Chair of Northern Development’s Northeast Regional Advisory Committee, was interviewed by CJDC News regarding the economic development impacts of overpasses on Highway 97 north of the Pine Pass.
Transportation study in works for Pine Pass
Written by Citizen staff
Friday, 17 October 2008
View this article on the Prince George Citizen website
The Ministry of Transportation is in the process of commissioning a study to look at improvements to Highway 97 north at the Pine Pass.
A close look, in particular, will be given to the railway crossings, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said Friday, and the amount of clearing they allow for trucks carrying large pieces of equipment as they pass underneath them.
But that won’t be all.
"The primary focus is to identify what road features are preventing or restricting business opportunities in the region," he said. "Once we have a sense of what those issues are, we will be able to figure out what improvements we need to make."
Once work begins, the study should take three to six months to complete, he said.
Meanwhile, he said the ministry has been working with the maintenance contractor to improve snow removal in the location.
With the pending completion of the Simon Fraser Bridge project, which will widen the crossing to four lanes, Falcon said it’s time to start looking at the issue.
The ministry will contribute $50,000 to the study and will be seeking a further $50,000 from Northern Development to carry out the work.
Northern Development CEO Janine North said Friday the organization has not yet received a proposal from the ministry but is interested in helping out.
Falcon said he heard about the concern during meetings with local MLAs and industry representatives.
