Image Credit: BC Government / Flickr

By Aaron Schulze

Trans-Canada Construction

MLA Stone: Taxpayers getting ‘a lot less for a lot more’ in Chase-area Trans-Canada Highway project

Apr 7, 2021 | 5:10 PM

CHASE — While he’s pleased to see investment in local highways, the MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson is critical of the B.C. government’s asset management.

Todd Stone with the B.C. Liberals said the project tender announcement of four-laning Trans-Canada Highway near Chase reflects the NDP government’s incompetence with major highway infrastructure.

“On this section – Hoffman’s Bluff to Jade Mountain – taxpayers are getting fewer kilometres of four-laning, at least one fewer full access interchange and a project that’s three-and-a-half-years behind schedule. All for the privilege of paying $61 million more than the original project budget,” Stone said.

Stone said the project was ready to tender in summer 2017 for around $200 million instead of the near $260 million price tag in 2020. He added with the tender being nearly four years behind schedule, construction will as well.

“The original section from Chase west to Jade Mountain was supposed to be 3.4 km of four-laning, and that was to take the highway all the way up from where the current Petro Can gas station is, right up to the top of Jade Mountain with intersection improvements at Mattey’s Road,” he said. “This tender for $61 million more and only 1.6 km of four-laning; about half because they’re going to end the four-laning at Chase Creek bridge. There’s also not going to be the intersection improvement at Mattey’s Road and there’s only going to be one great separated interchange which will be at Brook. We were also promised there would be an underpass that would link the two sides of the Village of Chase. I’m not sure if that’s still in the plans.”

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A big disappointment for Stone regarding the project tender is one fewer full access interchange. He said a highway corridor like Trans-Canada require grade separated interchanges for maximum safety.

“In its place, there will be a protected ‘T’ intersection that I’m sure will be built to its highest [standard]… but it’s not in the same level of safety category as a full access interchange,” Stone said. “While there will be continued four-laning of the Trans-Canada Highway through the village of Chase, which the residents in the area appreciate, I really call into question why the scope has to be reduced so dramatically for this project and why taxpayers are left on the hook paying so much more for it.”