A recent series of fatal collisions on the Trans-Canada Highway has prompted both federal MP Mel Arnold and provincial MLA Scott McInnis to call for immediate safety measures and long-term improvements along the corridor.
In separate letters sent Sept. 4 to B.C. Minister of Transportation and Transit Mike Farnworth, the two elected representatives raised concerns about the safety of Highway 1 through the Southern Interior and called for increased enforcement, infrastructure improvements and greater cooperation between the provincial and federal governments.
Arnold, the MP for Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, said four motor vehicle collisions occurred within 68 hours between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, resulting in three deaths and six people being injured.
The collisions occurred between Revelstoke and Sicamous, where much of the highway remains two lanes. Arnold said the lack of twinning and additional passing lanes contributes to collisions and remains a serious concern for residents and highway users.
There were at least two fatal accidents near the Golden area, one near Heather Mountain Lodge, the other at Emerald Lake Road in Yoho.
He also called for increased enforcement to address drivers who operate vehicles recklessly and put others at risk.
“I do not accept that MVAs and fatalities like those of the past week are just the way that things will be forever,” Arnold wrote. “I believe that this section of Highway 1 can and should be made safer.”
Arnold acknowledged the geographical challenges created by mountains, waterways and other physical factors, but said those difficulties cannot justify leaving the highway in its current condition.
Since 2016, he said he has repeatedly called on federal finance ministers to provide resources for safety improvements between Chase and the Alberta border.
Arnold asked Farnworth to provide information about work underway to assess and expand Highway 1 between Chase and the B.C.-Alberta border, as well as any efforts to determine whether law enforcement along the corridor is adequate.
He also invited Farnworth to visit the riding and travel the highway with him to discuss opportunities for the provincial and federal governments to work together.
McInnis, the MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke, focused his letter on the Field-to-Sicamous corridor, saying residents are becoming increasingly fearful of travelling the route following a series of serious and fatal collisions.
“The situation has reached a point where many people in Golden, Revelstoke, and communities throughout the Columbia Valley no longer view Highway 1 as simply a challenging mountain highway,” McInnis wrote. “They see it as a corridor where a routine trip can carry unacceptable risk.”
McInnis described Highway 1 as a critical economic and transportation connection that supports tourism, resource industries and commercial traffic while linking Interior British Columbia with the rest of Canada.
He requested an urgent meeting with Farnworth and senior ministry officials to discuss both immediate measures and long-term solutions.
Among the immediate steps proposed by McInnis are significantly increased BC Highway Patrol and RCMP enforcement throughout the Field-to-Sicamous corridor. He said residents regularly report excessive speeding, dangerous passing, aggressive driving, tailgating and distracted driving.
“A visible and sustained enforcement campaign targeting these violations would serve as an immediate deterrent while demonstrating to the public that government is treating this issue with the seriousness it deserves,” he wrote.
McInnis also called for enhanced traffic management, improved incident response capacity, expanded driver information systems, a review of commercial vehicle compliance and an assessment of temporary safety measures that could be introduced without delay.
Longer-term measures proposed in the letter include additional safe passing opportunities, better median and barrier protection, improved commercial vehicle management and a comprehensive examination of collision trends and contributing factors throughout the corridor.
“The message I am hearing from residents is clear: people are scared,” McInnis wrote. “They are scared to drive this highway, terrified to drive to work, scared for their families, and scared that without urgent intervention, more lives will be lost.”
Both letters were dated the same day and sent directly to Farnworth. Arnold copied McInnis and Salmon Arm-Shuswap MLA David Williams on his correspondence.
Together, the letters put pressure on the provincial government to respond to both the immediate concerns created by the recent collisions and the longstanding infrastructure limitations along one of the most heavily travelled and economically important highway corridors in the province.
