Image Credit: BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

By Caden Fanshaw / CKPG Today

Highway 97

Plans rolling ahead for Quesnel highway interconnector

Apr 6, 2021 | 1:47 PM

QUESNEL, B.C. – It may seem distant, now local officials say now is the time for the mega project which involves re-routing Highway 97 around downtown Quesnel.

The accepted route would take heavy truck traffic away from Front Street and instead along the Quesnel River, in close enough proximity with the hopes tourists could stop and enjoy the riverfront area.

You can watch the virtual fly-over here.

Mayor of Quesnel Bob Simpson says the interconnector will transform the city, and open new possibilities for the downtown core without the worry of big truck traffic, and dangerous goods transport.

Removing that added congestion and traffic also feeds into the city’s plan for a renewed riverfront along both the Fraser River and Quesnel River.

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The new route would add two new four-lane bridges, with no overhead span bridging South Quesnel to the downtown core.

One would cross the Quesnel River, and the other would be located over the rail tracks adjacent, the age of the current crossings adds to the need now.

“The bridges need to be replaced within the next five to eight years, and the added strip of highway is only a nominal addition,” says Mayor Simpson.

The current two-lane setup causes a lot of challenges for heavy traffic, says Simpson. The overhead span causes height restrictions, while the width can also be difficult to work with.

“The front end of work associated with these projects can be slow,” says Simpson.

There are a number of plans that need to happen before ground can be broken on construction which could cost half a billion dollars.

The project has had an early design completed and now waits for enough funding to complete an advanced design portion before the bidding process can begin, which will assess a number of factors including geotechnical, and work with First Nations.

Simpson says the discussion around the project is one of 50 years, adding he couldn’t remember an election municipally, federally, or provincially where someone didn’t promise an interconnector.

But Simpson is optimistic work could begin sooner than later, with a number of factors that suggest now is the time.

MLA for Cariboo North Coralee Oakes says the project will need to be funded both provincially and federally.

“This is critically important for our region, and we will have to make sure government knows this,” says Oakes.

Local officials cited the 2017 wildfires, and recent floods in showing the importance of Highway 97, and how it remains a critical artery for the city and the province.

Where the project currently sits is circled in red, with plans to move ahead to the next stage when funding allows.

Image Credit: BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure