New highway maintenance contract mandates faster road clearing for Nanaimo region
NANAIMO — A new provincial contract for road maintenance in the Nanaimo region calls for much higher standards during extreme weather events.
The province awarded a 10-year, roughly $150-million contract to Mainroad Mid-Island for maintenance work on provincial roadways in Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach and Port Alberni. The roadways include Hwy. 19, the Old Island Hwy. and Hwy. 4.
The new contract replaces one in effect with Emcon Services since 2003 and brings with it significantly enhanced standards for road clearing and maintenance.
Among the new standards, Mainroad must return Hwy. 19 to bare pavement with 24-hours of a severe weather event. Previously the standard was 48 hours.