Spring road repairs getting started

Apr 3, 2019 | 4:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — A number of major road work projects will be getting underway this spring, with the City of Kamloops including smaller repairs jobs on their to-do list.

Among the West Victoria Street and Todd Road repairs, Streets and Environmental Services Manager Glen Farrow says city crews will begin to tackle sections of Gleneagles Drive, Tranquille Road, Riverview, Oak Hills and Wedgewood in Westsyde, and Valleyview Drive from the Rose Hill entrance, all the way to Highland Drive. 

“That’s the section of road that BC Hydro was in last year. They will be in again this year doing a few improvements as well. And we’ll come in after that and make the road black again and clean it up. There’s a lot of repair work and patches through that corridor.”

Farrow says the city has taken more of a big picture approach to roads, with patch jobs often being needed before they’re able to completely resurface an area. 

“Not looking at just the asphalt but a lot of our projects are tied back to other operations in the city. What’s underground, where we can improve the active transportation corridors across the community. Looking where we can improve bike lanes, sidewalks, not looking at just the asphalt but that whole scope.”

Now that the asphalt plant has opened again for the season, Farrow says that means better pot-hole fixing.

“Through the winter, we do have our own asphalt plant. It’s just small. We use millings, and cook our own asphalt,” he explains. “So with that, there’s a delay in how much product we can fill and put down because we’re making our own asphalt. The quality of it often isn’t quite as hot and doesn’t bond as well as the stuff coming directly from the plant. We also have a cold mix product which is a more temporary fix.”

Additionally, Farrow says many of the on-ramps for the Trans Canada Highway through Kamloops will be fixed up. 

This includes Rogers Way, Pacific Way, and Copperhead Road sections. 

“All that area this year is going to be cleaned up,” Farrow says. “We’re working with the ministry as they do some of their work on their main roads. We’re going to be doing our routes as well in that corridor.”

In a statement, the Ministry says the parts they will handle include the section of Highway 5 from the Yellowhead Interchange to CN Junction, the Highway 1 Kamloops bypass, areas along Highway 1 through the Valleyview corridor, and various on and off ramps.

The Ministry adds that the resurfacing is expected to begin in early June, with completion by this summer.