INVESTING IN HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORTH-CENTRAL BC (2025)

Issue

Highways 97 and 16 are the two longest highways in British Columbia,[1] serving as essential north-south and east-west corridors across the entire length and width of the province, respectively. With that in mind, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit needs to update its long-term capital plans to incorporate specific priorities for north-central BC highway projects. 

Background

In Budget 2025, the provincial government said, “taxpayer-supported infrastructure spending is forecast to be $45.9 billion over the three-year financial plan.”[2] While the Province has made some significant investments and improvements to the highways across north-central BC over the past two decades[3], much of this spending has been emergency responses to damage caused by wildfires, flooding, and erosion.[4]

Additional highway infrastructure investments are required on the Highways 16 and 97 corridors to accommodate greater traffic demands, support regional economic growth and ongoing reconciliation efforts with First Nations, and maintain safe driving conditions[5] on these important provincial supply chain routes.

The reduction in the number of logging trucks on north-central BC highways has been more than replaced by vehicles moving equipment, supplies and people for the exploration and development of more than a dozen major regional mining projects[6]. Many of those projects will provide critical minerals needed for high technology and all of them have significant participation by partnering First Nations providing employment opportunities and ongoing revenue generations for their communities.

Enbridge’s proposed Sunrise expansion project to add additional natural gas transmission capacity from the Peace through the Central and Southern Interior to the Huntingdon/Sumas meter station will also bring more traffic to area highways.[7]

A large majority of the highways across north-central BC are two-lane roadways. This creates significant safety and efficiency issues as growing levels of both passenger and commercial traffic share space within dangerously restricted laneways. Higher clearances are also required in most areas of the highway corridor to enable direct and less expensive transport of large equipment.

Two aging Highway 97 bridges at Quesnel and Taylor[8] are showing visible decline and require urgent replacement. Finally, substantial rerouting of some portions of the regional highway system needs to be undertaken to remove commercial traffic and dangerous goods from downtown and residential areas in Quesnel[9], Prince George[10], and other area communities.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government:

1. Conduct a needs assessment of Highways 97 and 16 to identify high-priority areas for upgrades and improvements to support growing commercial traffic demands.