Safety a concern on Highway 23 North from Revelstoke to Mica Dam
By Nelson Daily Staff
An expected increase in traffic and collisions along Highway 23 North to the Mica Dam expansion have prompted a call for an increased police presence on that stretch of road.
As recommended by the community-based Mica Units 5 and 6 Core Committee, BC Hydro is providing funding to the RCMP to conduct additional patrols along the 136-kilometre stretch of highway for the next four years during construction of the BC Hydro’s Mica projects.
BC Hydro is also implementing additional measures recommended by the Mica Units 5 and 6 Core Committee to address impacts of increased traffic.
These include additional signage to warn drivers of high wildlife use areas and providing a safety package to all Mica project workers containing information on traffic safety, accident risks, and wildlife awareness and protection.
The Mica Units 5 and 6 Core Committee included interested stakeholders, not-for-profit groups, First Nations, federal, provincial and local governments, and representatives of BC Hydro.
The Committee worked from January 2008 until June 2009 to identify potential project effects and recommend measures to maximize benefits and minimize impacts.
All measures recommended by the Committee were included as project commitments during the provincial Environmental Assessment Office’s environmental review.
On-site work for the Mica 5 and 6 Project is underway with the contractors arriving at Mica Generating Station and setting up work areas. The project has an in-service date of 2014 for Mica Unit 5 and 2015 for Mica Unit 6.
The additional two units of the Mica Units 5 and 6 Project will increase the generating capacity of the facility from 1,805 megawatts to approximately 2,805 megawatts, surpassing BC Hydro’s current largest facility, GM Shrum Generating Station on the Peace River System at 2,730 megawatts.
This will increase BC Hydro’s provincial capacity by nearly nine per cent and will be available at peak times.
