Highway maintenance contract awarded for Trans-Canada crossroads

ROBSON, B.C.—Emil Anderson Maintenance will take over highway maintenance for Service Area 20 in north-central B.C.

The Robson area is at the crossroads of the Trans-Canada/Yellowhead Highway 16 and the Yellowhead Highway 5.

This highway maintenance contract was awarded following a request for proposals that was posted to BC Bid from Feb. 9 to April 7, 2021. The contract begins in September and has a standard term of 10 years with an option for a three-year extension.

Emil Anderson Maintenance is also the current highway maintenance contractor for Service Area 7 – Fraser Valley, and Service Area 26 – Skeena.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s maintenance contracts for all service areas require specific skills, especially in the event of extreme weather. Contractors are responsible for the following:

• Frequent communication with the public about rapidly changing road conditions during severe weather events and other incidents affecting travel on B.C. roads;
• returning Class A highways to bare pavement within 24 hours of a winter weather event, at -9 C or warmer;
• patrols every 90 minutes on a Class A highway during a winter storm; and
• patrols every four hours when a weather event is forecast.