Domano and Pine Pass Get Highway Upgrades

Monday, April 06, 2009 10:57 AM

Prince George BC- The City of Prince George will see 9.5 million dollars spent at Highway 16 and Domano /Tyner Boulevards. It is the worst intersection in Prince George as it has the highest number of crashes.

The announcement came today in a joint media conference of the Province and the Government of Canada.

The money is part of $249 million for highway improvements throughout BC to stimulate the economy, improve safety and provide jobs.

The joint announcement was made at the intersection of highway 16 and Domano Boulevard by Jay Hill MP, representing the federal government and Kevin Falcon, minister of Transportation in BC.

Of the total funding over $64 million will be invested in the Prince George area. This includes $9.5 million to improve safety at the intersection of Highway 16 and Domano/Tyner Boulevards. Another $40 million will be spent to realign and widen Highway 97 through the Pine Pass between Bennett Creek and Link Creek, and build two new bridges

over the Pine River.

Here are the details of projects in the central and northern part of the Province:

Highway 16

* Building a 1.4-kilometre westbound climbing lane on Highway 16, at Priestly Station about 32 kilometres east of Burns Lake.
* Constructing a 1.7-kilometre eastbound passing lane and improving the intersection at Sunny Slope Road, approximately 50 kilometres west of Prince George.
* Improving the intersection at Highway 16 and Domano and Tyner boulevards in Prince George.
* Constructing approximately two kilometres of single lane roadway to connect two eastbound passing lanes on Highway 16 between Prince George and McBride.

Highway 97

* Realigning and four-laning 1.6 kilometres of Highway 97 through Cargyle Curves, south of Clinton.
* Constructing a passing lane on Highway 97 near 12-Mile, approximately 26 kilometres north of Dawson Creek.
* Four-laning approximately 3.5 kilometres of Highway 97 between 148 Mile and Likely Road, in 150 Mile House.
* Constructing a southbound passing lane and making intersection improvements on Highway 97 between Prince George and Summit Lake.
* Realigning and rebuilding approximately 11 kilometres of Highway 97 from Bennett Creek to Link Creek to accommodate speeds up to 90 km/hr and installing two new bridges over the Pine River, 83 kilometres
south-east of Chetwynd.
* Four-laning approximately two kilometres of Highway 97 south of Bullock Lake Road, south of 100 Mile House.
* Four-laning approximately 2.5 kilometres and intersection improvements at 59-Mile North on Highway 97, north of Clinton.
* Paving Highway 97 from 150-Mile House to Hinsche Road.
* Replacing the steel deck on the Taylor Bridge over the Peace River, south of Fort St. John.

Local Side Roads in the Peace River area* Strengthening and paving approximately 22 kilometres and seal coating another 50 kilometres of Boundary Road, south of Dawson Creek.
* Strengthening and paving approximately 10 kilometres of Beryl Prairie Road near Hudson's Hope.
* Paving approximately 40 kilometres of roads serving oil and gas industry traffic in the North Peace area, including Doig and Siphon
Creek roads, near Fort St. John.

Bridge Replacements

ten bridges in total will be done including the following:
* Replacing the Deserters Bridge along Earnst Road near Quesnel.
* Replacing both the Oona River and the Oona River Lower bridges near Prince Rupert.

* Replacing the Swan Lake Bridge along Gundy Road in Dawson Creek.

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Posted on Monday, April 06, 2009 10:57 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Harbinger on April 6 2009 11:10 AM

Is the city gonna complete the "future" road at the top of Ospika to lessen through traffic at the light at Domano and 16? Or are they going to make Domano and 16 wider so police cars can safely pull over more drivers? How about starting the left turn lane at Domano at the bottom of peden Hill? How about a warning signal sign that can be seen going UP Peden Hill warning of a light change? How about a large sign that directs people to the right lane in order to get to Walmart? If we ever get another Yank tourist, the chances of them turning left across the highway to get to the shopping centre could be diminished somewhat. But then again, if we put the name Walmart on the sign, everyone will want their name on it.

Posted by: lostfaith on April 6 2009 11:41 AM

"How about a warning signal sign that can be seen going UP Peden Hill warning of a light change?"

If anyone needs a warning signal in this location they probably shouldn't have a drivers licence.

Posted by: gitterdun on April 6 2009 11:50 AM

IMO the warning signals definately help, especially when the roads are icy. It can take a long time to slow down from 60km and knowing in advance that you have to stop certainly doesn't hurt. But I'd be happy if they just painted some lines on the road. They are totally non-existant right now. For anyone that's not familiar with that area it's tough trying to keep to your lane and for those of us that are familiar, we're dodging vehicles that are trying to find the correct lanes.

Posted by: gitterdun on April 6 2009 11:53 AM

......leaving Walmart to head west is a nightmare as well. You always see tourists turning left onto the highway at Marleau Rd.

Posted by: Thunder on April 6 2009 12:11 PM

a warning light will only give people more opportunity to step on it to make it through the green, most often yellow, and sometimes red light. If someone is driving the speed limit, or the appropriate speed for whatever the road conditions might be, there is no need for a warning light. Sure, there are some improvements that might help, but more warning lights is a waste of money and I really think it will do more harm than good. If someone is driving 60km/hr, which is the posted speed limit, you can see a yellow light coming in plenty of time.

Posted by: seamutt on April 6 2009 12:43 PM

Thunder that is not true. The intersection being very busy and people not familiar with the intersection should have their eyes on the road and not be focusing on the lights. Also having warning lights grabs peoples attention while they are trying figure out which way to go. Having warning lights in case will allow people more time in their decision making.

As for people doing the speed limit as if that is going to happen. If someone is going to speed I would want them to have a warning anyhow. wouldn't you. Its your family.

If they don't have defined lanes for most of the year whats the point of a new intersection anyhow. I hope the person that approved this present abortion of an intersection has been given a promotion and been moved on. Wouldn't want that person approving the new one.

Posted by: diplomat on April 6 2009 1:26 PM

Thunder: "If someone is driving 60km/hr, which is the posted speed limit, you can see a yellow light coming in plenty of time."

Not so. I was driving at exactly 60km/hr on Central, approaching the 5th Avenue intersection. The RCMP admitted that in court.

I was approximately 20 feet from the intersection when the light changed to yellow.

I made no attempt to stop because it would have not done any good. There wasn't the slightest chance to stop the car within that short distance and I only would have stopped in the intersection with smoking tires.

Result: I was pulled over by the RCMP and given a ticket for *disobeying an amber light.*

The judge waived the fine ($130.- plus victims' fee) but I was given the penalty points.

I had to take half a day off from work and suffered through an *untruthful* episode in court which has resulted in my almost complete loss of faith in the honesty of our police.

There should be amber flashing warning lights ahead of every intersection on the Bypass.

Posted by: metalman on April 6 2009 1:58 PM

Here here, diplomat, true words. The intersections on the bypass should have warning lights for sure.
metalman.

Posted by: amdica on April 6 2009 2:49 PM

People who can not stop going 60km and the light is amber should not have a licence. The number of crashes at 16 and Domano are caused by stupid drivers and drivers not paying attention. I find that there is nothing wrong with that intersection, just stupid people period! If people paid more attention to driving and not anything else we would see a lot less crashes. The intersections that NEEDS improvment and something done about are 5th and Victoria and Westwood & Pine centre/Lorne cres. Those are teh two worst intersections in this city I see stupid people crashing at these intersections at least once a week! Maybe more, but will anything be done about it NO WAY! why because building up college heights and sending PG "city centre" out west is more important than cleaning up and improving the orginal PG...

Posted by: Big-Wayne on April 6 2009 2:49 PM

I have to agree
There should be an amber light at all major intersections along with a camera follow up so you have a warning to stop & if chose not to then pay the fine

Posted by: Big-Wayne on April 6 2009 2:52 PM

I hope these are all this year's projects & not over a 5 year time frame or some other Horse pockey like that So we just keep hearing the same announcement over & over again

Posted by: lostfaith on April 6 2009 2:54 PM

"The intersection being very busy and people not familiar with the intersection should have their eyes on the road and not be focusing on the lights."

Absolutely ridiculous! The lights are there for a reason and observing them while driving is an absolute must and a very important part of driving.

Who in their right mind doesn't pay attention to traffic lights?

I guess thats why we need advanced warning lights installed everywhere hey?

Now if you would have said, The intersection being very busy and people not familiar with the intersection should have their eyes on the road and not be brushing your teeth or curling your hair, I would agree.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"IMO the warning signals definately help, especially when the roads are icy. It can take a long time to slow down from 60km and knowing in advance that you have to stop certainly doesn't hurt."

Sounds like driving to fast for road conditions to me.

I have never had a problem slowing down from any speed to stop when required to, at any time of the year.

As far as dodging traffic to find the right lane. I use that intersection daily in all directions and have no problem knowing where my lane is and have never had to dodge anyone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I was pulled over by the RCMP and given a ticket for *disobeying an amber light"

An amber light is a warning/caution that the light is about to turn red. Amber does not mean stop. If you were approximately 20ft from the intersection and the light changed to amber you would have made it throught the intersection well before the red and therefore you shouldn't have been issued a ticket.
Unless there was a problem with the lights themselves.

Like I and others have said here before on many occasions, when driving a motorized vehicle it is your responsibility to PAY ATTENTION to what you are doing. When you are involved in a crash it is usually because someone was not PAYING ATTENTION.

Warning lights being installed all over the damn place are for people that lack the ability to PAY ATTENTION.

Posted by: Thunder on April 6 2009 3:18 PM

Diplomat - you were following the rules of the road and you were screwed over by a cop who just wanted to issue a ticket. I had a similar thing happen to me and it was a joke. However, I really do believe that a warning light wouldn't have made a bit of difference. Sure, lights start flashing to warn you the upcoming light is going to change, but it takes time for that light to change. Do you slow down even though it is still green? You would be one of the exceptional few who would.
I spend a massive amount of time driving all over town and travel up and down peden hill several times a day. There is a warning light in place. No one slows down when it starts to flash. If it starts to flash and the light is still green, people speed up to get through. I see it several times a day, everyday.
seamutt - I disagree - People who drive should indeed be concentrating on driving, which includes paying attention to traffic lights.
Those who do not know how to navigate through traffic and be aware of the traffic lights around them should put down their coffee's, hang up their cell phones, put their make up away and PAY ATTENTION.
It still amazes me how many people I see running red lights at the Domano / Hwy 16 intersection and there is absolutley NO reason for it. Same thing along the bypass. It baffles me how many times my light has turned green to go but people in the opposite direction are still turning left when their light is obviously red. Or when my light is green to turn and someone is barreling through the red. The drivers in this town are the problem, not the traffic lights.
Seamutt - you say "it's your family". Yep, it sure is. That's why I drive defensively, I anticipate light changes (doesn't anyone pay attention to stale green lights anymore?), I'm not overly aggressive trying to get to my destination 30 seconds earlier than everyone else. I follow the rules of the road. Period. THAT is how I take care of my family on the road. Always assume the other driver doesn't have a clue what they are doing, keep my eyes open and on the road. It's worked so far (knock on wood) and no amount of warning lights would be of any help to me. It will only enable those who are speeding, or otherwise not paying attention.

Posted by: gamblor on April 6 2009 3:45 PM

Use the $9.5 mil for Domano to hire Spiderman to rip the cellphones away from the middle aged women drivers as they pass by. Accidents at that intersection would drop to zero. Hang up and drive.

Posted by: Loki on April 6 2009 3:55 PM

actually the driver training book stated that an amber means that the light is about to change, prepare to stop.

Posted by: diplomat on April 6 2009 4:18 PM

Lostfaith: "An amber light is a warning/caution that the light is about to turn red. Amber does not mean stop. If you were approximately 20ft from the intersection and the light changed to amber you would have made it throught the intersection well before the red and therefore you shouldn't have been issued a ticket. Unless there was a problem with the lights themselves."

Just my point. I asked the cop why I was being given a ticket. He told me that he was not giving me a ticket for going through a red light as the light had not turned red as I passed through the intersection. He told me that the ticket was for disobeying an amber light. Period. Game over.

I might add here that until I was given this stupid ticket I had a totally clean driving record, no ticket ever.

In the opinion of the cop I deserved a ticket, in my opinion I did not. The judge attempted to make a decision that was fair to both of us: I didn't have to pay but I got the penalty points.

It is like being a little bit pregnant: I was a little bit guilty, which of course is a totally ridiculous outcome.

Either one is guilty, or one is not. It was a black day for me as I lost a lot of faith in the justice system and all my trust in the RCMP.

I have also spoken to other victims who got the same shaft. Apparently it is not a rare occurrence - the officer always wins. It is his/her opinion against yours.

That is why I demand warning lights ahead of every intersection where the speed limit is 60km/hr or more.

Posted by: Thunder on April 6 2009 4:22 PM

Can't generalize a particular demographic when it comes to this. Among the moms in minivans / SUV's driving at warp speed, there are the big rigs who are always speeding and running the lights, young drivers with shiny new "N"s with a car packed full of their friends and paying absolutley NO attention and big obnoxious jacked up trucks driven by men with testosterone overload.
The idiot drivers come in all forms. I've seen them all.

Posted by: diplomat on April 7 2009 7:50 AM

Thunder:"Diplomat - you were following the rules of the road and you were screwed over by a cop who just wanted to issue a ticket. I had a similar thing happen to me and it was a joke."

Right on! Your comments are good ones.

Still, flashing warning lights do work for those who try not to have to go through an intersection that unexpectedly changes to amber and have another go-around with a cop who just wants/needs to fill the ticket quota for the day.

They are also great in the winter when the roads are slippery.

Posted by: Thunder on April 7 2009 10:01 AM

I paid special attention on the bypass this morning to see if warning lights at every intersection would make any sense. I noticed that when the light turned green at 5th Ave, I could plainly see the light at 10th AVe was green, indicating that by the time I get there, it most likely will change - plenty of time to prepare. The same thing at 10th - I could see the light at 15th clearly. Just my opinion, but I really think warning lights are not necessary if you are driving like you are supposed to and I would much prefer to see the money spent elsewhere.

Posted by: diplomat on April 7 2009 10:51 AM

I think warning lights at every intersection on the Bypass are a necessity because I regularly see loaded logging trucks and chip trucks blowing through red lights (and usually amber lights as well) at EVERY intersection, from 20th to 15th to 10th and 5th Avenue.

The green lights that you observed are a clear indication that the lights are NOT synchronized - meaning that the lights at every intersection do their own thing independently rather than act in a connected fashion to facility traffic along the main drag first, which of course is the Bypass.

I don't know if you are familiar with Kingsway in Vancouver/Burnaby. If you proceed at the posted speed after a light turns green you will arrive at the next intersection just when it also turns green, and so forth all along Kingsway.

This is called a *Green Wave* and it moves the traffic along the main route with a minimum of stops and idling.

If they can do it there you would think that they can do it in Prince George - or perhaps...NOT.

Posted by: Harbinger on April 7 2009 12:30 PM

Yellow light means STEP ON IT. Doncha know? After no deliberation, the top extension of Ospika is not part of any plan. Maybe with garbage rates being raised to wring another few bucks out of sucker taxpayers, I can't expect that "road" to be finished in less than ten years from now. It ain't the highway. Today they have erected a plan/election sign near Tims on the highway. Looks nice.

Posted by: Thunder on April 7 2009 2:06 PM

Big trucks will not slow down when and if they see a warning light. They don't now at any of the other intersections, so why would they on the bypass. Also, why are they always travelling at least 20 kms over the speed limit? Perhaps if these obnoxious a--holes would drive the speed limit, they would be able to follow the rules of the road.

Having said that - I do agree with you that the lights on the bypass are not synchronized properly and I'd rather see that changed than see warning lights posted all over the place.