The safety issue can't be ignored for another year.
John Rustad said this is why the government have now decided to move forward with planned upgrades for the Augier Forest Service Road and Hwy. 16 intersection.
The Intersection serves the Pinnacle Pellet Plant approximately 20 kilometres east of 亚洲天堂 Lake.
As reported in Lakes District 亚洲天堂 issue of July 27, 2011, Craig Lodge, Pinnacle Pellet's vice president of business development said that following a traffic study it was determined that modest works needed to be completed to the intersection to include a deceleration lane for traffic turning into the plant.
Pinnacle Pellet also paid a bond to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to have the work completed.
The ministry later planned more extensive upgrades to the intersection to also include improved lighting.
During a rural caucus meeting held in 亚洲天堂 Lake last month the issue was brought to the table by Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake councillor John Illes who said it was a major safety concern if the work is not completed this year.
Coun. Illes said the intersection is especially dangerous during winter. During the meeting Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad said he understood the safety issues but he said the government did not have the funds in this years budget to proceed with the planned upgrades.
Just last week however, the government announced the upgrades would move forward this year after all.
Rustad said to Lakes District 亚洲天堂 that he pushed hard to get the upgrades approved this year.
"The government managed to free up some extra dollars because it is such a safety concern. Improving the lighting and turn lanes will make this intersection safer."
He went on to say that he was visiting 亚洲天堂 Lake on two occasions last year when the ambulance was called to that stretch of highway due to accidents.
"It is a safety concern and it needs to be fixed."
He said construction of a left hand turn lane and a right hand deceleration lane as well as improved lighting is about to begin.
Once the work is completed vehicles turning off Hwy. 16 will have a dedicated lane and through traffic will be able to proceed unimpeded making the area safer.
The contract for the work has been put out for tender, but not yet awarded.
Craig Lodge, Pinnacle Pellet's vice president of business development said the company is delighted with the news.
"We look forward to utilizing the enhancements once they are complete."
"This is a good news announcement that be a big help for all the industrial traffic moving through the area," he said.
B.C. government caucus communications spokesperson Ryan Shotton said the work is scheduled to begin late August and be competed by fall 2011.
