A section of Highway 3 in the Rock Creek area will see $6.5-million worth of improvements.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced last Friday that it had awarded a multi-million-dollar deal with Peters Bros. Construction Ltd. out of Penticton to do work on the highway.
Improvements will be made to Mount Baldy Road, Frontage Road opposite Mount Baldy, Bridesville Townsite Road, Bridesville Cemetery Road, Hulme Creek Road, Sidley Mountain Road, Sidley/Camp McKinney Road, Wiggins Road, Wagon Wheel Road and Kelly Road, the ministry said in a release.
Peters Bros. will resurface 30 kilometres of the highway between Rock Creek west to Nine Mile Pit, work on the shoulders of the road in order to make it easier for cyclists, concrete barriers will be replaced and there will also upgrades to intersection at Hulme Creek Road.
“The recycled asphalt from the project will be used to improve approximately 16 total kilometres of roadway surface along portions of local side roads used by residents and for access to recreational areas,” said the ministry.
The improvements should make navigating that stretch of road easier.
“Highway 3 remains one of our most important east-west trade corridors and improvements to this route continue to be a high priority,” explained Blair Lekstrom, minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“This particular work will provide area families, tourists and commercial transport vehicles with a smoother, safer surface between Osoyoos and Rock Creek, and save taxpayers money by extending the life of the highway.”
“Highway 3 is a major vital link for B.C.’s southern communities and improvements such as this project will ensure safe and smooth travel for all,” said John Slater, B.C. Liberal MLA for the Boundary-Similkameen region.
“When the work is completed, drivers will definitely notice a significant improvement.”
The ministry says work will begin as soon as weather allows and the estimated time of completion is mid-September.