Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I made a Member’s statement on one of my favourite topics: Highway No. 7. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation about some of the maintenance plans for this summer. I indicated there was a failure at culvert 221, but that’s, I believe once again, because of the age of the highway. I would like to say that the DOT and the contractors – I think it was Rowe’s Construction – have to be commended for acting quickly in the repair of that bridge, but it did reduce the road restrictions.
However, more importantly, my question is about dust control this year. There are 250 trucks being planned for the community of Fort Liard because of the Lone Pine discovery across from Fort Liard. That section from the BC border to Fort Liard is very dusty and I would like to ask the Minister about the dust control program that will have to happen there. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the entire length of Highway No. 7 it’s 254 kilometres long. There are going to be nine sections, about 53 kilometres in total that will have the application of calcium chloride and the dust control applied to it. We believe that will greatly enhance safety.
We’re working with industry on a plan for the access road to Liard, and I know the Member mentioned 250 trucks. There’s a possibility of two wells being drilled near the community and it could, in fact, be upward of 700 truckloads going into the community or near the community of Fort Liard. So we’re working on a solution with industry on the access road and the application of calcium chloride there for the community of Fort Liard.
I’m really pleased about the dust control program for the sections and I encourage him to complete them, but there is that 32 kilometres from the BC border right to Fort Liard. I really believe that if the influx of trucking is up to that many as the Minister indicated, 700, we really should consider, and hopefully our winter road program industry is able to assist, I believe that 32 kilometres should have calcium applied to it to manage the dust for the safe travelling, because the residents of Fort Liard utilize that section going to Fort Nelson quite often and almost on a daily basis.
As far as the section from the border to Liard goes, I know there are nine sections that calcium will be applied. I can get that information for the Member from the distance from the border, the 32 kilometres to Liard.
But the application of calcium chloride will be done near bridge crossings and other areas where it’s possible to pass. So, from a safety perspective, that’s where the application will be applied.
If there is more truck traffic coming out of BC to Fort Liard, this again is something we’re going to have to take a look at, and if more calcium is needed to be applied to that section, that’s something we’ll have to take a look at. Again, I think working with industry, maybe there’s a solution there as well.
I believe that’s the thing, is that there will be a lot of dust. I don’t know if the approaches, like bridges, et cetera, there’s an increased likelihood of accidents there, but I’d surely like to see if perhaps the Minister can meet with industry with the most up-to-date plans and look at possibly some dust control on the entire length of it. I know that that dust is really fine and hangs in the air, and it hangs over that highway system and it really must be addressed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We are up to approximately 20 percent of the entire length of Highway No. 7 that we will have some calcification of calcium chloride. Again, we will sit down with industry, and I know the folks we have on the ground in the region are always talking to industry and community leaders down there about working together and trying to come up with solutions. We will continue to do that and hopefully we can have more of Highway No. 7 have that application of calcium chloride for the safety of the travelling public. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just quickly, can the Minister’s office forward to my office the dust control program for Highway No. 7? Thank you.
We will get that information for the Member today. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
