Chase Four-Laning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Find answers to some frequently asked questions about the project. 

On this page:

• General Information
  • How do I find road closure updates?
  • How can I stay informed on monthly construction activities and traffic impacts?
  • How is public and local community feedback being considered?
  • How will people know to stop in Chase?
  • How does this project improve safety?
  • What are the next steps?
  • How will highway traffic access the Village of Chase after construction is complete? 
  • Will there be any impacts to the existing cemetery near the highway right of way?
     
• Chase West to Chase Creek Bridge (Chase East)
  • What is the current status of this project?
  • Could you confirm if indeed the project has stalled?
  • If so, what are the reasons? 
  • What options are being considered?
  • When is work expected to begin again? 
  • How were noise levels assessed and are they still being assessed?
  • How will the Chase East project impact noise levels in the Village?
  • Will noise mitigation be completed after the project?
  • Will there be signs regarding the use of engine brakes?
  • 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?
  • 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?
  • What will be the speed limit when the project is complete?
  • What will the drainage look like within the Village of Chase once the project is complete?
  • What was considered during the drainage design within the Village of Chase?
     
• Chase Creek Rd to Chase West (Chase West)
  • What is the current status of this project?
  • How has the project accommodated pedestrians and cyclists?
     
• Hoffman’s Bluff to Chase Creek Rd (Hoffman’s)
  • What is the current status of this project?

General Information

How do I find 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 traffic impacts?

• 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 during active construction season.

How is public and local community feedback being considered?

• 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.

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. Signs were installed during the now complete Chase West project. However, further signage will be installed as part of the Chase East project.

• 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 project 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 have been completed within the Chase West project limits that allow for access to Chase from the west as well as to Chase Creek Road (Chase-Falkland Road). These provide safe acceleration and deceleration opportunities and allow turning vehicles to wait for a safe opportunity to access or exit the highway.
• 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?

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

How will highway traffic access the Village of Chase after construction is complete? 

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

• Access to Highway 1 at Coburn Street will be open to emergency vehicles only for entrance and exit in the westbound direction. Emergency vehicles can enter and exit Highway 1 eastbound through the Brooke Drive interchange.

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

• There will be no impacts to the existing cemetery during highway construction. The cemetery will be accessible during construction via Foothills Road until the new Brooke Drive interchange is completed.

Chase West to Chase Creek Bridge (Chase East)

What is the current status of this project?

• Currently in construction, this project is estimated to be complete in Fall 2025.

Could you confirm if indeed the project has stalled?

• The project is now scheduled to be completed in 2025. The timeline has been delayed due to the changing scope of work at the site. 

If so, what are the reasons? 

• Slope stabilization needs to be completed along with remaining overpass and grading work.

What options are being considered?

• The ministry has a slope stabilization design in place that will involve the completion of rock bolting, similar to the work that was done last construction season. 

When is work expected to begin again? 

• Construction recommenced on May 1, 2024.

How were noise levels assessed and are they still being assessed?

• Prior to beginning construction, the ministry completed noise assessments of the highway within the project area to establish baseline noise levels.
• Interim testing was completed in the Winter 2023 finding the pre-construction and current noise levels to be similar or slightly lower than the baseline noise levels.
• The ministry has committed to interim monitoring starting in Spring 2024 and continuing to completion of construction.
• For more information MOTI’s Noise Policy can be found at the following link.
• Noise Assessment Reports for the Chase East Project can be found at the following links:
  • Highway 1 - Chase West to Jade Mountain - Traffic Noise Impact Assessment - February 2020
  • Memorandum - Clarification for Traffic Noise Assessment Report in Chase, BC - March 25, 2024
  • Memorandum - Highway 1 Chase West to Jade Mountain - 2023 Noise Monitoring - December 14, 2023

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 is not anticipated to be clearly noticeable.
• The ministry is still committed to conducting a post-construction noise assessment to understand noise levels. The assessments will be done after all changes to the highway have been implemented to ensure accuracy.

Will noise mitigation be completed after the project?

• The ministry is working with the Village of Chase to understand the noise levels and discuss potential work at the conclusion of the project.

Will there be signs regarding the use of engine brakes?

• Yes, the project will be installing signs advising commercial vehicles to avoid the use of engine brakes. Signs will be posted eastbound near the Petro-Canada/A&W and westbound near the top of Jade Mountain. This work will be completed in spring 2024.

What sort of rock work is taking place on site?

The contractor has been scaling and bolting the rock to ensure the final rock cut is stable, and this will continue during periods of active construction. 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 contractor is using industry best practices while stabilizing the rock, and the ministry and the contractor are working together closely to monitor the site during active construction, as well as during periods of inactivity. This includes safety measures such as traffic control, berms, barriers, set-back distances and exclusion zones to protect workers and the travelling public.
• To protect Scatchard Trail users, fencing will be installed along the edge of the trail in areas where pedestrians are exposed above the steep slopes on the highway.

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 in the westbound direction.

• 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. 

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. The pathway will be constructed of an accessible hard pack gravel.
• To protect Scatchard Trail users, fencing will be installed along the edge of the trail in areas where pedestrians are exposed above the steep slopes on the highway.

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
• Coburn Street and the Coburn Street Bridge lack the capacity required for commercial transportation traffic. This would create further impacts to property and cost

What will be the speed limit when the project is complete?

• The speed limit will be 100km/h once the project is completed. The 100km/hr section will start approximately 800m east of Chief Neskonlith Drive and end at the Chase Creek Bridge for a total distance of 5.0km.

What will the drainage look like within the Village of Chase once the project is complete?

• Drainage within the Village of Chase is substantially complete and has been upgraded to a combination of open and enclosed drainage. Open drainage includes ditches and swales, and enclosed drainage includes pipes and culverts.

What was considered during the drainage design within the Village of Chase?

• The project had to incorporate the existing conditions within the Village of Chase. This included tying into the open and enclosed drainage and ensuring proper water management from adjacent properties.
• Due to flat grades the drainage system had to be designed for proper water movement. Using open drainage, which is closer to the surface at the beginning of the network, helps to ensure adequate water flow where enclosed drainage is not possible.
• Open drainage is better for the environment because it allows for rainwater to be absorbed back into the soil, while improving the quality of water that flows downstream. It is also more cost effective, and easier to maintain than enclosed drainage.

Chase Creek Rd to Chase West (Chase West)

What is the current status of this project?

• Construction was completed in June 2023

How has the project accommodated pedestrians and cyclists?

• Over 1.5km of the old highway alignment between Petro-Canada/A&W and Chase Creek Road has been converted into a low volume frontage road which serves as an active transportation connection between Neskonlith IR#2 and the Village of Chase.
• There is a minimum of 1.5m shoulder for cyclists and pedestrians on the new low volume frontage road.
• A new pedestrian underpass has been constructed at Chase Creek Road with a paved multi-use pathway connecting to Harper Lake Road and the new low volume frontage road.

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

What is the current status of this project?

• This project is in the design phase. The ministry is working closely with the Neskonlith Indian Band (NIB) to develop the design.
• There is no schedule for construction.