TERRACE - No more will motorists using the Sande Overpass by Keith Ave. on its southern end be confronted with flashing amber and red signals, as the final touches are being put in place this week on what is a major overhaul and construction project.
“We are going to the traditional traffic signal timing,” said provincial transportation ministry official Darrell Gunn late last week.
“Barring any malfunction with the new electrical cabinet,” it should be complete by at least this Friday, he said.
A key feature of the work involved adding a second lane for motorists turning left from the overpass eastward to Keith Ave.
Pedestrians will also have a safer way of crossing at the southern end thanks to the installation of timed signal lights.
Making improvements to the Sande Overpass, considered a choke point for traffic, is a provincial responsibility because it is part of Hwy16 and has long been wanted by city council and motorists.
The company WestCana has been doing the electric component of the work under a subcontract from Adventure Paving of Prince Rupert which did the construction.
The total bid price for the whole project came in at $2,297,266.42 which was paid for by the province.
“We have basically all the physical works done, what we are working on today is all the electrical wiring hook up,” said Gunn last week. “All the big, physical concrete, the paving and lines. That’s done.”
The timing of the new light system is based on the traffic patterns that are calculated on the unique characteristics of the intersection, he said.
Next in line for the overpass work will be resurfacing it, which is high on the transportation ministry’s priority list for future projects, said Gunn.
Resurfacing of Keith Ave./Hwy16 heading east of the overpass and west of the overpass from its northern end took place earlier this year.