BC Government signs nine year contract with new highway maintenance provider for Skeena region

Emil Anderson maintenance will be handling road  maintenance
throughout the Skeena region for the next nine years
(BC Gov't photo)

A new maintenance contractor will be taking on the work of keeping the highways of the Skeena region safe through the year, with the British Columbia government announcing a nine year contract with Emil Anderson Maintenance Company Ltd., which now assumes highway maintenance in Skeena Service area 26.

The announcement from Friday notes that the contract will remain in effect until March 31st, 2029, with an option for a five year extension.

Emil Anderson Maintenance Company Limited has been providing highway maintenance services to the province since 1996 and is the highway contract for the Fraser Valley region as well.

They take over the contract from Nechako Northcoast construction which worked the highways for a number of years across the region.

The Skeena region in responsible for much of highway 16 east of Prince Rupert through towards New Hazelton, North to Dease Lake and south to Kitimat.

Emil Anderson Construction is the new service provider for
the Skeena Service area 26
(map from Gov't of BC)

Winter driving conditions between Prince Rupert and Terrace often make for much in the way of discussion for area residents, with some concerns raised in the past about road conditions along the vital and only corridor between the two communities.

Towards the guidelines for maintenance on the province's highways, the Province made note of its requirements of contractors when they are awarded contracts for work across BC.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s maintenance contracts for all service areas require high standards and a proactive approach when a severe weather event occurs, including:

Frequent communication with the public about rapidly changing road conditions during severe weather events and other incidents affecting travel on B.C. roads; 

Returning Class A highways to bare pavement within 24 hours of a winter weather event, at -9 C or warmer; 

Patrols every 90 minutes on a Class A highway during winter storms

Patrols every four hours when a weather event is forecasted.

More notes on Friday's announcement can be reviewed here.

A look at the Highway Maintenance contract process can be found here.

Further items of interest related to travel along the highways of the Northwest can be explored here.