Chase Four-Laning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Public consultation for the Chase Four-Laning Project will be online this year due to COVID. Find answers to some frequently asked questions about the project. 

On this page:

• General Information
  • How do I get road closure updates?
  • How can I stay informed on monthly construction activities and anticipated traffic impacts for this project?
  • How is public and local community feedback being considered following this update?
  • Why did the budget increase while the scope decreased?
  • How will people know to stop in Chase?
  • How does this work improve safety?
  • What are the next steps?
  • What protective measures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the construction site?
  • How many access points will remain to the Village of Chase after construction has been completed? 
  • Will there be any impacts to the existing cemetery near the highway right of way?
• Chase Creek Rd to Chase West (Chase West)
  • What is the current status of this project?
  • How will the project accommodate pedestrians and cyclists?
• Chase West to Chase Creek Bridge (Chase East)
  • What is the current status of this project?
  • Why is the ministry proposing an emergency gate at Coburn Street?
  • How will this project accommodate pedestrians and cyclists? Will the project integrate with the Scatchard Trail network improvements?
  • Why does the design not include an interchange at Coburn Street instead of Brooke Drive?
  • How will the Chase East project impact noise levels in the Village?
  • What sort of rock work is taking place on site?
  • How long is the rock work expected to take?
  • Are there any measures in place to protect workers and the public?
• Hoffman’s Bluff to Chase Creek Rd (Hoffman’s)
  • What is the current status of this project?

General Information

How do I get road closure updates?

• You can find the latest road closure updates for the entire province at www.drivebc.ca

How can I stay informed on monthly construction activities and anticipated traffic impacts for this project?

• The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure project team will provide the public with updates on key project activities and traffic impacts as the project progresses. These updates will be published monthly in the Chase Sunflower and on the project website. 

How is public and local community feedback being considered following this update?

• Community feedback has been and will continue to be considered along with engineering, environmental and financial information, and feedback from local government and First Nations

• As an example, in 2017, the Brooke Drive interchange option was identified as the community’s preferred option for the following reasons:
  • Increased opportunity for development
  • Minimal impacts to residents and businesses
  • Support for adjacent land use
  • Improved connectivity to local road network
• Refer to Page 6 of the January 2021 Chase Four-Laning Information Boards (PDF, 11.7MB) for additional examples of feedback that has been considered and is reflected in the design
• We welcome feedback throughout the duration of the project, including during construction. Feedback can be directed to chasefourlaning@gov.bc.ca

Why did the budget increase while the scope decreased?

• The original estimates were completed in 2015, with limited engagement and engineering and reflect a very early level of understanding about the project
• Since then, significant detailed engineering investigations, along with consultation with the Pespesellkwe of the Secwepemc Nation and the Village of Chase has been completed. Due to these factors, along with increasing labour costs and a hot construction market, a budget increase of $61.1 million was required.
• The Hoffman’s to Chase Creek Road segment is complex and runs through one of the Neskonlith Indian Band’s Indian Reserves. The Provincial Government is continuing the process advancing the design to determine the property requirements, while addressing any concerns and impacts as a result of that design with Neskonlith Indian Band. This segment remains a priority but is not currently included in the construction schedule while design and consultation work is being completed.
• The Chase West to Chase Creek Bridge (“Chase East”) project was previously planned to extend up Jade Mountain. Upon detailed engineering investigations, geotechnical concerns were identified, and the ministry believes that more investigation must be completed to better understand and ensure that there is a safe and efficient plan to design and construct. The Jade Mountain section will be captured in a subsequent phase of the TCH Four-Laning Program.  

How will people know to stop in Chase?

• A combination of blue and white Service and Attraction Signs and green and white Guide Signs will be used to provide travellers with advance notice of the services provided in Chase and how to enter Chase
• We are working with the Village of Chase on a signage program that is targeted to help promote businesses and attractions throughout the Village of Chase

How does this work improve safety?

• Four-laning with median and roadside barrier greatly reduces the potential for head on collisions
• The primary access to the Village of Chase will be a grade-separated interchange which will eliminate the left turn movement across on-coming traffic
• Protected-T intersections provide safe acceleration and deceleration opportunities and allow turning vehicles to wait for a safe opportunity
• Consolidated accesses with appropriate acceleration and deceleration opportunities will greatly reduce the likelihood of collision when entering/exiting the highway
• Improved highway geometrics will allow vehicles to safely travel at an increased speed
• Grade-separated pedestrian crossings reduce the potential for vehicle/pedestrian conflicts

What are the next steps?

• To continue consultations with the Neskonlith Indian Band (NIB) to advance the design of the Hoffman’s Bluff to Chase Creek Road segment
• Complete construction for both the Chase West and Chase East segments

What protective measures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the construction site?

Provincial construction sites have strict protocols and policies in place that follow the requirements of the provincial health officer to help prevent the spread including:

• Reduced in-person meetings and gatherings
• Virtual site sign in requirements to minimize high traffic areas
• Holding meetings outdoors to ensure physical distancing throughout the workday
• Strict daily cleaning and sanitization requirements

How many access points will remain to the Village of Chase after construction has been completed? 

• There will be three access points to the Village of Chase as per the existing condition. The access points include the following:
  • Shuswap Avenue West (near the Petro-Canada/A&W). This access will be moved roughly 0.5 km to the west and will become a full-movement (both east and westbound acceleration and deceleration lanes) protected-T intersection
  • Brooke Drive Interchange. This grade separated interchange (including an underpass and roundabout) will become the primary entrance to the Village
  • Shuswap Avenue East (Jade Mountain). This intersection will remain in the current condition as requested by the Village of Chase

Will there be any impacts to the existing cemetery near the highway right of way?

• The existing cemetery is to remain and there will be no impacts due to highway construction

Chase Creek Rd to Chase West (Chase West)

What is the current status of this project?

• Currently in construction, this project will be completed in Fall 2023

How will the project accommodate pedestrians and cyclists?

• Over 1.5 km of existing highway between A&W/Petro-Canada and Chase Creek Road will be converted into a low volume frontage road which will also serve as an active transportation connection between Neskonlith IR#2 and the Village of Chase
• A new pedestrian underpass will be constructed at Chase Creek Road with a paved multi-use pathway connecting to Harper Lake Road and the new low volume frontage road. Refer to page 7 of the January 2021 Chase Four-Laning Information Boards (PDF, 11.7MB)  to see the pedestrian underpass.

Chase West to Chase Creek Bridge (Chase East)

What is the current status of this project?

• Currently in construction, this project will be completed in 2025.

Why is the ministry proposing an emergency gate at Coburn Street?

• Maintaining access for emergency services is a priority and an emergency gate at Coburn Street will maintain direct highway access

• An advance warning sign with flashing lights will be installed on Jade Mountain to notify westbound traffic when there is an emergency and direct them to move into the left lane to allow emergency services to safely enter the highway. We are working with emergency services and the Village of Chase to finalize this component of the design.

How will this project accommodate pedestrians and cyclists? Will the project integrate with the Scatchard Trail network improvements?

• The new Brooke Drive interchange includes sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians and cyclists to cross underneath the highway to access the Scatchard Trails
• A new pedestrian path will be added to the Chase Creek Bridge to connect pedestrians from the Chase Creek Falls trail to the Scatchard Trails. A path between Chase Creek Bridge and Foothills Road will complete the connection.

Why does the design not include an interchange at Coburn Street instead of Brooke Drive?

• The Brooke Drive location was selected based on technical reasons and this location was broadly supported at the 2017 public open house
• The Coburn Street interchange option has significant adverse impacts compared to Brooke Drive including property, businesses, archaeological sites, drainage, and cost
• The Coburn underpass poses many constraints to the project including:
  • Archaeology
  • Flooding
  • Constructability
  • Cost
• Coburn Street and the Coburn Street Bridge lack the capacity required for commercial transportation traffic. This would create further impacts to property and cost

How will the Chase East project impact noise levels in the Village?

• Considering the new highway design and the projected traffic volume increase over the next 10 years, the change in noise levels will not be clearly noticeable
• The ministry has current noise level information and will conduct a post-construction noise assessment to understand whether mitigation should be considered

What sort of rock work is taking place on site?

The contractor is scaling and bolting the rock to ensure the final rock cut is stable. Scaling is the process of removing loose rocks, while bolting is the process of installing steel bars and cementing them in drill holes to provide additional stability to the rock.

How long is the rock work expected to take?

The rock work is expected to continue throughout the duration of the project.

Are there any measures in place to protect workers and the public?

The ministry and the contractor are working together closely to monitor the rock while stabilising using industry best practices. This includes safety measures such as berms, barriers, set-back distances and exclusion zones to protect workers and the travelling public.

Hoffman’s Bluff to Chase Creek Rd (Hoffman’s)

What is the current status of this project?

This project is currently in the functional design phase. We are working closely with the Neskonlith Indian Band (NIB) to advance the design. Due to complexities involving a land transfer agreement with NIB, a schedule cannot be set at this time.