giterdun, and soon!!! They (Government) were able to punch the freeway from Vancouver to Kamloops through for Expo 86, in a hurry. Maybe we need a Worlds Fair in PG, to giturolling!! Otherwise, pour the money to it, and quit pissing around with our tax dollars!!

what a bunch of BSing parasites we have running the show!! We need to take our province back from these morons!!

Only to Sintich Road? It should be to Red Rock at least. Better yet through Stone Creek up the hill.

Oh yeah, add another traffic light

What a crock. 27.5 million (and if the experts have come up with that estimate, you can safely add twenty percent to their numbers, maybe more, to predict the actual costs) This is total b.s. they plan to build this four lane highway in disconnected segments,and then add more traffic lights, like any moron would do. And the expert engineer tells us that fencing does not work to keep the wildlife off the road, but cannot offer a better idea. Oh, and remove the lights too, that will reduce the collisions with wildlife.
This can't be real.
metalman.

Cool! There should also be a major intersection just west of Happy Campers where the Boundary Road joins the 97.

Now we just need the city to kick in with a water main from the Little Criminal Center across to the Dansen to kick start new construction (and taxes) in that area.

The airport is doing their part, the province and feds are turning dirt, just the city is missing. Come to think of it the only government to to raise my taxes over the last bunch of years has been the municipal government, so how about some investment by the city? I see the city budget going up every year but the loot gets blown on crap like statues, arts and toys for the city. Now that I write it down, it sounds like we are paying the municipal government for kinder garden toys!

Or likely to run a kinder garden!

Another intersection? You like stopping and starting continuously when driving? Ever had to do that day in and day out with a heavy load or trailer? Never mind my ranting, just because it bugs me to have to stop and start, what I truly believe is that all these intersections on highways are adding to wear and tear on the roads, brakes, tires, and vehicles burn more fuel pulling away from a dead stop than if they were able to cruise at a steady speed, which then increases tailpipe emissions. Spend the money, build overpasses.
metalman.

Ho Hummm!!!! NEWS RELEASE Oct 24 2019---- P.G. to Cache Creek Connector now open to four lane traffic. Named after the old PGE railroad, The Prince George Eventually Highway is finally complete for four lane traffic except for the stretch between Sintich road and Redrock. This section will be fast tracked with completion expected by the fall of 2023. In a press conference, the Premier of B.C. Bud Nogood stated "It's been a tough project but we always deliver on our promises." LOL

"Another intersection?"

Yes, why? Wasn't there a lot of excitement about traffic circles or roundabouts not too long ago?

We were told that they allow traffic to flow smoothly without making everything come to a complete wasteful idling stop!

Perfect spot for a roundabout, imho!

Of course, I don't think that anybody in charge has the foresight to think progressively enough to do something like that...

"We need to take our province back from these morons!!"

And hand it over to the other morons who did not even manage to do proper lane painting on the highways?

"And hand it over to the other morons"....you got that one right diplomat!But unfortunately,where we run into trouble is in saying "oh well,I guess this is the best we can do" and voting the governing party back in anyway.
That's exactly what these opportunists like the Campbell Liberals depend on happening at election time.
The recent 12,000 name petition in regards to the Cowichan Lodge shutdown in Duncan B.C. shows that we CAN make them listen if we stick together!
The only weapon of defense against the complete disregard for voter concerns this government has shown,IS the ballot box.
Failure to pay attention and push back only results in the likes of what we now have for a government here in B.C.
After two terms,Campbell still is not listening and I suspect that will only get worse(much worse)if they are simply handed a third term!
Therein lies the problem!
Cheers!

Unless there has been a major change in the highway over night between the Fraser river bridge and Sintich road there are already 2 lanes going south and 1 lane going north. 27.5 million dollars to add 1 lane 5 km long seems a little excessive. The 27.5 million would be much better spent on the highway south of Sintich road where the 2 lanes converge to 1 lane. Twin the section of road between Sintich road and the old cariboo hwy turn off at the old Art Knapps lcation. Get rid of the bottleneck going south.
On the political side, the photo op for Gordo would be much better with the new bridge in the back ground as he puts the shovel in the ground for highway enhancement rather than a side of the highway pic of Gordo with thistles and old plastic bags as a back drop.

Wow.

Not a single positive post.

At least they are spending money in the interior.

An overpass. That is hilarious.

A roundabout? It would have to be huge as small roundabouts are not efficient. But a huge roundabout might work I guess.

I suspect most of the posters who believe that a four lane highway can be punched in overnight from PG to Cache Creek have no idea what goes into the process.

The Coquihala was easier to build because it was not on an existing corridor. The current highway 97 corridor has some big challenges in some sections because in some cases there simply isn't enough room for four lanes without some serious and costly reconstruction. As I mentioned in another thread, a lot of new four-laning has taken place in the 'easy' areas.

If you can blame anything, blame the politicans eager for a sound bite and promising this sort of thing and letting people believe that it would happen quickly. I for one am not under that illusion.

Mr PG does have a valid point.
Most of the four laning HAS been done in the easy area's which translates into a token attempt to deflect the critics.
As in.. "there,we did something...NOW SHUT UP!"
Projects in the northern of reaches of B.C. are NOT a priority.
That would be the lower mainland.

An overpass IS hilarious because it will never happen, the concept is too sound.
Check out the Interstate system south of the 49th; highway traffic does not have to come to a stop at red lights every 1/4 mile when going through or around even the smallest of towns. Local traffic passes under the interstate where it needs to. This all costs a mint, but you only have to do it once, and there are no traffic lights to maintain, no accidents from intersecting traffic, no annual repairs due to stopping and starting large vehicles, it's all good, you see.
A roundabout will not work on the highway, the potential for disaster is high, with the increased speeds. They are great in the city, if everybody can learn how to use them. Resident, your comments are spot on, and don't worry, with Photoshop, they can put any back drop they choose behind the 'magnificent Goredough'
metalman.

What a bunch of whiners. Came up from Cash Crick on the last long weekend was amazed at how light the traffiuc was. There were very few places that the 100 km speed limit could not be maintained.

I have to agree that there is a lost of political BS attatched to the completion of the Cariboo Connecter. Its much like the Olympics a waste of tax dollars.. If the cost of gas keeps going up #97 South will be like driving #16 East, deserted. All we are doing is building better roads for the truckers with our tax dollars.

There is no reason why more of our freight should be hauled by the railway. I would be cheaper and its a freight hauling business and take the pressure off our raods.

So there will be another traffic signal at Sintich Road. Its a safety factor.When your stopped look at the person in the next lane smile and make their day. Whats all the hurry? Ever herd his one, "slow down and live".

Cheers

Cache Creek, No!

Build a cut off south of 100 Mile and connect it to the Coq.

"Most of the four laning HAS been done in the easy area's which translates into a token attempt to deflect the critics.
As in.. "there,we did something...NOW SHUT UP!"

Imagine if the Province focussed on the so-called 'hard areas' first. Almost nothing would be done and people would be complaining about that.

Sometimes you just can't win.

Underpasses for local traffic instead of lights is indeed the answer.

this would leave no access to airport from Sintich

Actually 'He speaks',that ain't a real bad idea!

The thing that bugs me is this election promiss was a promiss of the obvious and we baught it. The current plan and rate for 4 lanning of this road will be complete about 2040 or later. That sounds like the normal rate of upgrade of any provincial road.

As for roundabouts I would actually welcome them. They do work even in large volume trafic circumstances. Don't confuse them with trafic circles they are a different beast. Best thing about roundabouts is they reduce intersection injury and death to practically non existant. If designed well they move trafic faster than lights. But it really is a mind set change for this area because we have none. Underpass's & overpass's are great but they are so cost prohibitive.
They also require continual monitoring and inspection. Let's build stuff right so we don't have big maintenance costs

The idea that the road south is perfectly fine as it is now is silly. Its summer make that same trip in January. Four lanning would shave time off a trip significantly and increase safety. Making that trip shorter and safer helps us sell our city. Many of us here have friends and family in the south. The shorter and safer we can make that trip the more likely we can attract more people and business. Even if we say it is ok today that does not mean we won't be playing catch up tommorrow because we ignored it. We need to plan for our kids not just what is good for us today.

We need to plan for our kids not just what is good for us today.

We cant plan for tomorrow how can we make plans for our Kids.We are completly self centred and wrapped up in our own needs. We want it all.

Cheers

Let us (Prince George) have at least proper modern 4 lane highways and safe intersections to the city limits in every direction - we don't expect to have as many overpasses, underpasses and elevated expressways as some cities have (for instance Kamloops!!!) and then continue with the 4 laning of 97 south as planned (or perhaps a bit faster) while eliminating some dangerous bottle necks.

Nobody I talked to expects the whole Cariboo Connector to be completed in the next five years!

Get on with those four lanes NOW so that the new twinned bridge can be put into service as soon as possible - and build the left turn lane across from the Casino as requested by the majority of businesses and taxpayers!

Okay what about all the narrow 1950's railway underpasses? Those are a dangerous disgrace.

When a person drives into PG that has never been here or knows anything about it, I bet they are surprised by the size of it! When driving in from the South, it seems like you would be driving into a villiage! What the heck?? Why is PG so left out? Why does Kamloops have such better hwys? Is it because they are closer to kelowna, van etc? I don't understand what the draw to Kamloops is? It's ugly (no trees, everything looks dead), windy, and super, disgustingly hot. Whenever I have been there we always need to plan our day around the heat and for most of it we sit in an air conditioned house - you can't do anything active...drives me nuts (we go there cuz we have friends who live there). Sorry, got off topic...oops.

I'll bite, I grew up in Kamloops and I think it's a great town.

Their planners seem to have a better idea of long term planning, although they have some problems to.

With regards to the temperature I remember as a teenager hanging evestrough in July in 35+ ya it's hot. It is also dry and windy so feels much cooler than hot humid and stagnant Kelowna. I spent allot of time there to and much prefer Kamloops to Kelowna. The heat you get used to I still have not figured out how to make -35 enjoyable ;-)

Kamloops is a well planned transportation hub much like hear with the well planned part ;-). But there big thing is trading area it is so much bigger than here so they can easily justify the investment. I cant remember the #'s but we are not even close. When hwy 5 went through that really helped reenergise thier economy. Good safe routes to bigger markets realy help a city trying to diversify. At least city access wise we don't have Kelowna's problem, now that's a transportation nightmare.

All that said I have been here 13 years and I have no plans of going anywhere soon. I really want to see if we can help turn around this city, diversify and get a population that is continually increasing or at least holding it's own.

I totally agree Diesel, their planners obviously have much more foresight than ours in PG. I have heard you get used to the intense heat, but I don't like it...I like to jog w/ my dog and I like to do it whenever the mood hits and that is usually mid day...I'm not much of a heat person. It looks to me like PG has diversified a lot compared to even 10 yrs ago. But much more needs to be done downtown...I fear our DT is going to just distinegrate further and further...very sad indeed.

The only benefit I can see for this project is that the government of BC will be paying for this upgrade and not the city of PG after the ring road is built and the senior levels of government no longer see a need to fund the inner city roads. So if its a 'play dead' strategy until after funding is secure... and then we go for the ring road... then I would say that is a risky strategy, but at least it would be a strategy....

The facts are that this expenditure has very little economic utility compared to other places where this money could be better allocated for infrastructure improvements.

A more appropriate use would be to only 4-lane the section from the Continental Way merge to the new bridge. Use the remaining $25 million to do any number of other more important projects that have a strategy towards an end goal that in the mean time provides the most economic utility.

$25 million is a lot of money that could 4-lane the Sintich to Red Rock if done on that part of the highway where it is needed far more IMO. I figure the first thing on that road that should be done is Stoner to Art Napps where an over pass should be put in to allow for a future ring road.

The ring road is what the eye should be on, because clearly getting up on 20 highway stop lights is killing the competitiveness of our economy, to say nothing of road safety, local air shed concerns (where industry locates) and maintenance cost implications. The ring road is the future and the sooner the planning is in place for a real ring road and the sooner critical pieces are put into play, then the sooner we can start to realize the economic benefits as well as market ourselves as open for business.

IMO the Husky Oil refinery has to go. No question about that (imo 75+% of our bad pollution). Our best bet is to have the senior levels of government fund its relocation to our appropriate air-shed industrial park. The decision is ours as a city to make and not the senior levels of government because it was the senior levels of government that are liable for their regulatory failure to protect the air-shed of what is a major city in these parts.

Therefor to fix their past wrong to this city the senior levels of governments should be forced to settle for covering a portion of the cost of relocating the oil refinery or compensating them for going out of business while another oil company is encouraged to build out at our new park if any at all. We don't need Husky oil other than for a handful of local jobs that are not worth the health costs to the entire city. A concern could be the cost of local fuel, but the fact remains most major haulers in the PG area get there fuel from Edmonton and not Husky just down the road, and even some of our gas stations sell for the same price the fuel they truck in from Edmonton. Other factors include the municipal revenue we receive as a city which I would say is not worth the cost, as well as the fact the Chinese ownership will never see to it that their profits are used to subsidize our clean air which our lungs are filtering just fine for them now. People need to remember the stuff they burn off into our air-shed is the stuff not suitable to run through your tailpipe in other peoples towns.

Therefor the senior governments should be required to not only pay for the infrastructure that enables industrial parks out side of our airshed... but also help fund in large amounts the relocation of harmful industry like the oil refinery across the river from downtown, or things like reclaiming river frontage from current and past industrial use, as well as ensuring we are open to future business that may need heavy industrial lands with potential to be emiting harmful substances into the airshed. PG needs the jobs and we need to be open for business so we can continue to fund the growth of our country. But in the near future we will need our country to back us up if we are to be able to continue to be an economic power that has future growth potential. We already lost NCP, a fiber board plant in the 90's, co-gen type projects, and many others that we are not even aware of because no company can suffer the risk of putting up cash only to find out they've been blocked by the local environmentalists concerned about air quality. The only reason PG's economic growth stalled in the first place was not because of the environmentalists that opposed those projects, but rather because hadn't planned for industrial lands that were appropriate for future industrial growth.

I'm rambling by now, but I figure a northeast industrial park can only be feasible if it has proper highway connections. Eventually we will need a northeast bridge towards Shelly for a ring road to this industrial park as well as a south Fraser bridge to avoid the Peden Hill congestion.

IMO the planners should draw a red line and say across this line will only go 4-5 roads and each of these will be an over/under pass so the ring road can be a true bi-pass route with no stop lights hindering movement. That would solve a lot of the stop light problem, but instead as the article above suggests they will plan for more stop lights growing ever further out so eventually it will even choke the life out of any feasible ring road possibilities. They are throwing us peanuts (as our blind politicians golf clap for their peanuts) with no understanding of what our real infrastructures needs are.. now or in the future.

Time Will tell

Here here on the ring road, it needs to be done. Apropriate industrial lands is also a very good point. These type of thing say to me we are missing effective short, mid, and long term Planning.

Downtown is a major concern of mine personally as my spouse and I live work and own a business all within 1Km of the core. What needs to be done is a big question,but it absolutly needs to be addressed. The past 6 months has seen a further slide. The DBIA has been allot of hit and miss but Sherry the chair seems to be trying really hard to turn that around.

Kamloops used to have a refinery and the city really did smell allot closer to our own. When it left it really made Kamloops a more pleasant place to live. Refineries in general emmit allot of the SO2 compared to other sources. As for the one here I have been a bit of a fence sitter, I know....I hate that to. I was hoping they were going to pull the plug on there own a few years ago but that did not occur. There is the fact that it does employ and generate some economic activity. I could argue it chases more activity away than it generates. I'm just not able to chase them away yet, we should however be asking them and the province for emmission improvments the technology is there.