Improved visibility and safety coming to B.C. highways

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Pavement marking is now underway throughout the province with higher standards than previous years, which makes the paint easier for people to see.

In December 2018, new pavement marking service agreements were signed around the province through an open bidding process. The following changes were made to improve on the previous agreements:

• 20% more lines painted annually throughout the province;
• use of larger glass beads in coastal areas for increased reflectivity and visibility at night, and thicker paint for longer-lasting pavement marking;
• second-coat application in areas that experience premature wear; and
• enhanced contractor monitoring and auditing to maintain consistent performance.

There are five pavement marking service areas in the province: Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Thompson-Cariboo, Okanagan-Kootenay and the North. Each of the pavement marking service agreements have five-year terms and include an optional two-year extension.

Due to more favourable weather conditions, the first lines were painted on the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Pavement marking is now taking place in all regions and this week crews will be working in the following areas:

• Highway 16 near Vanderhoof and Highway 97 in the Prince George area in the North;
• Highway 1 in the Salmon Arm and Cache Creek areas and Highway 6 near Nakusp in the southern Interior;
• Highway 1 in the Abbotsford area in the Lower Mainland; and
• side roads in the Duncan area and parts of Highway 1 between Duncan and Victoria on Vancouver Island.

These schedules are weather dependant and subject to change. Drivers are reminded to slow down, obey all traffic control personnel and use caution when travelling through areas where crews are marking pavement.

Quick Facts:

• Private contractors are responsible for repainting more than 20,000 kilometres on highways and provincially owned side roads in B.C. every year.
• The ministry invests approximately $20 million annually on the pavement marking program.

Learn More:

For more information on pavement marking, including maps for each service area, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-infrastructure/contracting-to-transportation/highway-bridge-maintenance/pavement-marking