A new contractor will be clearing the Malahat this winter under an agreement with the province requiring more frequent patrols, faster road clearing and increased communication with the public.
Emcon Services Ltd., with headquarters in Merritt, is taking over servicing highways on southern Vancouver Island from Mainroad South Island Contracting as of Oct. 1.
The contract runs for 10 years, with an optional five-year extension.
“We are looking forward to working on the south Island and being the successful proponent, serving the needs of the drivers in the area,” Emcon president Frank Rizzardo said Monday.
Three companies bid on the contract, including Mainroad, a Ministry of Transportation official said in a statement Monday. Bids were evaluated based on price and services.
Mainroad has held the contract since 2004, with an annual value of $10.3 million, according to provincial records. The value of Emcon’s agreement was not immediately available.
Emcon held the central and north Island highway maintenance contracts until last year, when Mainroad took those over.
There are 28 highway maintenance service contracts in B.C.
Emcon holds highway service contracts for Revelstoke-Golden and Quesnel, plus 12 in Alberta and nine in Ontario.
The south Island contract includes the Island’s west coast, the Patricia Bay Highway, as well as Salt Spring, Thetis, Pender and Mayne islands.
But during winter months, eyes are frequently on the Malahat, where motorists often face challenging road conditions.
The new contract requires “even higher standards and a more proactive approach when a winter weather event occurs,” the ministry said.
New requirements include increasing frequency of patrols, a higher standard for returning Class A highways to bare pavement after a weather event, and increased communication with the public about road conditions.
Emcon will hire existing staff who have been working on the south Island contract, Rizzardo said.
It will also be using a high-tech system installed in trucks to provide up-to-date data allowing staff to be connected and communicate. A live screen will show where equipment is located to assist with deployment.
A larger salt shed is being set up at Bamberton, Rizzardo said. As well, the company’s goal is to hire First Nations members.
The dedication of maintenance workers is often overlooked, he said, calling them “unsung heroes.”
