Transportation on the North Coast and Northwest -- Highway 16 corridor

Our quick reference and archive of items pertaining to the Highway 16 corridor and other roads of the Northwest.

2014

December 12-- O'Brien Road and Maintenance among 7 Northern contractors recognized by Province  NCR
December 9-- BC Transit ready to launch Shoppers Special Bus Schedule next week  NCR
December 8-- Final Missing Women Commission Report Update come sup short regarding Transportation Options  NCR

November 18-- Province of British Columbia seeks your input on Ten Year Transportation Plan  NCR

October 2-- Changing seasons means changing your driving habits and being prepared for anything!  NCR

August 11-- Skeena Taxi in Prince Rupert Push to Increase Cab Fares
August 6-- Changes pitched for Prince Rupert taxi service
June 27-- Council to seek better access to Information on Dangerous goods movements through the City  NCR
June 7-- Highway 16 CLOSED West of Smithers due to Serious Motor Vehicle Incident NCR

May 31-- One final question from Jennifer Rice before the Legislature session ends  NCR
May 30-- The story of Highway 16 is a tale of poverty, vulnerability and violence - yet surprisingly little action
May 25-- Researchers examine hitch-hiking along B. C.'s so-called Highway of Tears
May 23-- Usk ferry out of service
May 22-- Liberals miss bus on Highway of Tears
May 21-- Minister's talk on Highway of Tears completely useless
May 13-- Justice Minister Anton points to workshops, improved cel service as progress on Highway of Tears NCR
May 13-- Not a mystery
May 12-- Mayor Mussallem's comments on Highway of Tears gain national attention NCR
May 5-- BC Liberal Government deflects NDP's Highway of Tears transportation issue  NCR

April 4-- MLA Rice raises Highway 16 and Ferries issues in Thursday morning session NCR

January 23-- Traffic and road concerns aired at Prince Rupert City Council NCR
January 23-- New Highway Camera Added near Burns Lake
January 21-- Province Upgrades Highway 16 to Class A level  NCR
January 21-- Highway 16 to see Improved maintenance
January 17-- Ministry of Highways activates traffic lights at 9th and McBride NCR
January 14-- MLA Calls for Highway 16 changes
January 14-- MLA calls for reclassification of Highway after recent deaths
January 13-- Section of Nisga'a Highway Remains Closed
January 10-- Province must better maintain roads: Murray Kristoff (audio)
January 9-- RCMP identify third vehicle involved in Highway 16 fatality on Tuesday  NCR
January 9-- Police investigate spike in highway deaths (audio)


Our Archive of past items from 2013 and 2012 can be found here.

Winter Driving concerns reviewed for Terrace based road contractor

With another season of Winter Driving conditions fast approaching, the contractor for road maintenance for the Terrace region is reviewing concerns expressed from last years travels along Highway 16.

Nechako Northcoast Construction came under some criticism last winter from the Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District, with particular attention directed to the state of road maintenance on the eastern half of the Terrace to Prince Rupert stretch of Highway 16.

In August, Directors of the SQCRD expressed their thoughts (and those of some area residents) to a Ministry of Transportation official, highlighting the need for improved maintenance.

Highway maintenance not adequate, says regional district

To help improve communication between the road maintenance company and local officials, Nechako Northcoast intends to add regional government officials to the list of groups that they meet with prior to each winter season, seeking feedback on the plan for the upcoming winter.

An article in the Terrace Standard outlined some of the challenges that highway maintenance workers face with the varied conditions that Highway 16 can offer,  with the stretch between Terrace and Prince Rupert a particularly troublesome patch of geography of the North Coast,  that makes their work quite difficult when winter storms roar into the region .

And with winter driving conditions not too far off, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has once again reminded motorists that Snow Tires (and chains in some instances) are a requirement on the majority of highways in Northern British Columbia for the winter driving season.

As well, they offer up a variety of Winter Driving Tips to help motorists navigate the Winter Driving Season, you can review those notes from the Ministry website.

You can watch for changes in the daily road conditions from the Drive BC website.

As well, we will highlight any severe road conditions on Northwest roads with our North Coast Alerts section at the top, right hand side of the blog.

Transportation on the North Coast-- Highway 16 corridor

Our quick reference and archive of items pertaining to the Highway 16 corridor.

2013



December 10-- Rupertites submit three roads to BCAA's Worst Roads Survey  NCR

October 8--  Winter Driving concerns reviewed for Terrace based road contractor  NCR

August 19-- Traffic lights on the horizon for 9th and McBride  NCR
May 4-- BCAA wants to know where the bad roads are NCR

February 12-- A new option for Highway 16 travel? NCR
February 5-- You can pay for the potholes now; or pay for them later!

January 23-- Greyhound service reduced (page 3)
January 22-- Terrace Mayor responds to bus cut approval
January 17-- Some things don't work so well in the shade NCR
January 17-- Greyhound request for route frequency reduction is approved NCR
January 15-- NW Transit Service (video)
January 15-- Northwest transit service could come soon

2012

December 20-- Minister of Transportation to begin consultation on public transportation along Highway 16
November 11-- Northwest Transportation issues on City Council's Agenda
October 27-- Local governments oppose Greyhoud cuts plan
October 26-- City council jumps on the "Stop the Greyhound Cuts" bus
October 19-- Proposed cuts to Greyhound bus routes worry northern communities (audio)
October 16-- Mayor speaks out on proposed Greyhound cuts
October 13-- Greyhound wants to trim northwest BC service
October 10-- Smithers Greyhound Shuttle (video)
October 10-- Smithers Town Council Expresses Concern of Greyhound Application to Decrease Service
October 9-- Greyhound targets Highway of Tears for service reductions
October 9-- Greyhound seeks service reduction for Northwest corridor?
October 5-- Greyhound applies to reduce Bus Service
October 1-- UBCM Shuttle Bus (video)
October 1-- Highway 16 Shuttle Bus Looking More Like a Reality
September 13-- A Smithers solution for Highway of Tears fears?
January 28-- Highway 16 closed due to High Avalanche Risk