The British Columbia Road Runner, Winter 1978, Volume 15, Number 3
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THE BRITISH COLUMBIA ISS, 03S2 ·21 ~1 Runner '" PUBLISHED BY THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPOK 'ATIO N. COMMUNICATIONS A '0 H IGHWAYS WI TER 1978 VOLUME 15, NUMBER 3 Full Season Marked by Busy Schedule of Official Bridge and Highway Openings Han . Bill Bennett, Premier, officiates at ribbon culling for $8.7 million Blanshard Street extension at Victoria, October 25, Highways Minister Alex. Fraser and Geo rge Tranfield, father assisted by John Guay, representing Labourer's Union local. of Region 1 Design and Survey Superi ntendent A . G. Tranfield, and long-time resident of the area, cut ribbon to open the Craig's Crossing to Highway 4 (Parksv ille Bypass) for public lise. Part of large crowd of nearly 1,000 which turned alit for official opening October 2 of the Ilew Castlegar-Salmo section of With flags snapping in a brisk wind Mr. Fraser opened the new Highway 3. Premier Bennett did the honours and a motorcade Pitt River Bridge on Highway 7, October 24, the same day as the then moved over the new 40 km highway to Salmo. (More opening of Stormont. photographs all page 21.) 2 . ~ --- ~- ------_. ._~~~---, MINISTER'S MESSAGE THE ROAD RUNNER Volume 15 Winter 1978 No.3 Published**Quarterly by the Ministry of Transportation, Communications and Highways Victoria, British Columbia Ray Baines, Executive Editor Arthur J. Schindel, Editor It is not often that I have the opportunity to thank individual members of this Ministry for the extra effort given in the line of their duties. We have so many ex Associate* Field*Editors celle nt and dedicated people and far too often all they W. S. Boughey .. .. .... Victoria hear about are maintenance problems and criticism from Herb Gutteridge Regional Elec trical Crew the general public. Eric Eastick Cen treline Marking, Cloverdale We all realize that it is our duty to serve the public Doug Jones .. Burnaby needs and I believe that over the past couple of years we S. B. Bergen Chi lliwack have indeed completed this task in I'ery fine fashion. George Harper .. ...... Burnside As you know, our Ministry is usually contacted by the Ed Hemmingsen port Alberni general pub lic when there is a request or complaint, but Hector McLeod .. .. Nanaimo I would like to share with you the contents of a call D. L. Oliver .. .. .. Courtenay gratulatory letter that I recently received a copy of. The Paul Connor North Vancouver letter was from a citizen who, while waiting for the David T. Kao Dock District N eedles ferry, noticed the activities of Dick Smith, Ma chin e Operator and part-time [oreman, While waiting Glyn Briscoe .. New Westminster to board the ferry, Dick occupied his time by picking lip Maureen Recknagle .. McBride debris left behind by travellers and depositing it ill the Dave Schleppe .. Kamloops garbage calls. Ken E. Smith .. Williams Lake The citizen asked Dick his reasons for doin g this and H. L. Popoff 100 Mile House the immediate reply was "Well, this is wher e I live and Fred L. Stuart Salmon Arm work and I like thin gs tidy and clean, M. 1. Newlands .... Revelstoke I could be sitting in my truck and Les Johnson .... Vernon waiting but what I do is 111m lip the J. T. Hallam .. Kelowna radio so I can hear any messages and W. R. Coates Penticton then tidy up around the area ." Brian Niehaus __.. Merritt Dick has been with the Ministry for Dave Roberts .... .. .... Lillooet over 20 years and he is to be com- R. Haworth __ .. .... .. Grand Forks Dick Smith mended for his extra effort as it indi- Joy Mailey .... Rossland cates to the general public our sincere desire to do our S. J. Dixey .... __.._.... .. Nelson jobs well. I know that there are many members of our C. W. Smith .. .. New Denver staff who think like Dick Smith and I would like to per sonally thank and congratulate every single one of them. Fred Ryckman .._ Creston N. K. Molander .._..__.._ _.. .. Cranbrook ALEX. V. FRASER Allan Edgar .. .... __ __ __ .. __ .... .. Fernie Minister C. M. Frank Golden ~~-~-~---------------_. W. R. Rowe ....__ ...._.. .. Smithers Stan Gladysz .. .... ..__Pouce Coupe R. G. HA RVEY, Deputy Minister, made the international Willie Smith _.. .. Fort 5t. John press recently when his name appeared in World Highways, Harman Delyea .... .. ....Terrace official publication of the International Road Federation. Shirley Hrechka .... .. __.. prince George Mr. Harvey was mentioned as one of two vice-presidents of Clyde Smaaslet .. Prince George the Roads and Transportation Association of Canada which has Al Hepp __ .... .. ....__ .. .. .._.... Quesnel an affiliatio n with I.R.F. The pub lication World Highways is B. A. Cleary ..__.. .. .. __ .. __ .. Vanderhoof published in Was hington, D. c., and goes to a great many Dave Foster .. Burns Lake countries of the wor ld. W. R. Ball __ .. .. .. prince Ru pert Whay ne Chap pell __.. .. ..__ .. Terrace SALMON ARM DISTRICT Fred Stuart, associate field editor for the RR, would like to pass on his personal thanks to Garry Sherbeck, COVER PHOTO working for Bob Orr on the Headquarters paving crew . On Jun e 8, 1978, a lady on Blind Bay Road had the mis Looking east all Highway 16 at the Chimd emasli bridge wash fortune to have both her hands bitten by an injured dog. alit and the Bail ey bridge whi ch was open to traffic all Friday, Garry stopped and administered first aid to her before she was taken to the Salmon Arm hospital for treatment. November 10. Thi s scene is representative of the Ministry's The lady in question, unknown to Garry at the time was quick action in restorin g highway traffic ill the Terrace area. Fred's wife. (More photos, story starting page 4.) 3 TERRACE FLOODING October 1978 was the wettest month for many years in the from the east. The Terrace bridge crew concentra ted their Prince Rupert/Terrace-Smithers area. On Monday, October 30, efforts on the many problems on the side roads. heavy rain and winds combined, bringi ng dow n many trees The rains aba ted on Fri day and Saturday and the creeks throughout the area. By the end of the week it was a genuine, started to recede although the Skeen a River west of Terrace was full-scale disaster. very high because flood waters combined with a number of high The rains continued throughout Tuesday, Wednesday, and tides and this resulted in H ighway 16 flooding over 12 kilometres. Thursday and by early Tuesday, some minor flooding started, By Saturday morning, this had dropped sufficiently to allow the but as this is not unusual for the area, there was no need for bridge crews to get through to Terrace. real concern. By Wednesday morning the first major road A good deal of repair and bridge approach work was com closure occurred on Highway 16 east of Terrace, when a large pleted during this time, but heavy rains again overnight on Satur diameter culvert became plugged with gravel and boulders. On day resulted in the loss of portions of this and set back prospects Highway 25 to Kitimat, water started to flow over the road at for reopening various highways. However, the weather finally Williams Creek, over a section approximately 200 metres long. started to co-operate, with clear skies and lower temperatures. By early afternoon, flooding and minor washouts were occurring A major problem was the difficulty in assessing what dam in many areas. Around 6 p.m., word was received that Chirnde age had actually occurred, beca use most areas were inaccess ible mash Creek Bridge (187-foot-long concrete and steel structure) by road. Consequently, several helicopters were obtained to on Highway 16 eas t was washed out. Later the same evening, viewing the damage, help rescue stranded people and deliver sup Little Oliver and Legate Bridges on Highway 16 east were also plies and equipment. gone. These are both permanent concrete and steel structures. In addition to the heavy road and bridge destruction, a grea t In a few short hours, 25 bridges were lost or damaged beyond deal of damage occurred to private homes, particularly in the repair and many major washouts occurred. Lakelse Lake and Remo areas. Also the natural gas pipeline As soon as word of the first major bridge collapse was re through the Telkwa Pass washed out resulting in closure of many ceived, wheels were put into motion to organize the shipment of schools and commercial businesses. A limited supply was main Bailey bridge materials and crews from all parts of the Province. tained to most private residences, but the stores experienced a The Minister, Alex Fraser, the Deputy Minister, Bob Harvey, thriving business for portable heaters for several days! along with the Executive Director of Construction, Ray White Highway 16 between Terrace and Smithers was reopened on and Director of Maintenance Services, Pat MacCarthy, were all Friday, November 10, and all but a few minor side roads were in Terrace at the time and were able to give invaluable help in open by Saturday, November II. the initial planning. Tom Johnson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Rainfall for the period October 30 to 10 p.m., November I, organized the sea-lift part of the operation from his office in was recorded at 8.4 inches (212.7 mm) with winds gusting to Victoria. 87 km/h. From November 1 to 10 p.rn. on November 6, a fur Materials were shipped by road from Creston, Karnloops, ther 4 Y2 inches (102 .8 mm) fell. The main storm is estimated and Prince George and the Queen of Prince Rupert ferry was all an average occurence time of once every hundred years.