Major upgrades to Kamloops and Revelstoke rest areas on Hwy 1 get underway this spring

_{**Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story had a mistakenly-labelled rendering included. Our apologies for that error.**}

Crews are set to begin construction on a pair of projects to upgrade rest areas along the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1).

The work planned for the “key rest areas,” as the Province calls them, will improve safety, accessibility and amenities for truck drivers and passenger vehicles.

"Of the over 200 highway rest areas my ministry is responsible for, almost 70% can accommodate commercial vehicles," explained Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth.

"Increasing this number – improving the accessibility and capacity of our rest areas – is an important way we can support the commercial trucking industry that people and businesses across the province depend on."

Okanagan Aggregates Ltd., awarded an $11-million contract for the project in February, already began on-site work at the Hwy 1 Columbia rest area in Revelstoke last week.

On April 1, the rest area will shut down to all vehicles until close to the end of 2026 as construction begins on the following upgrades:

• Expansion of the existing parking area, including dedicated commercial-vehicle parking.
• Installation of full-flush washroom facilities.
• Improvements to lighting.
• Construction of intersection and access improvements, including approximately two kilometres of resurfacing on Hwy 1.

Construction on upgrades for the Kamloops brake check and rest area along Hwy 1 westbound, west of Kamloops, will also begin this spring, although an exact date or contractor was not announced.

Work will include:

• Increasing capacity at the brake check.
• Upgrades to washroom facilities, including full-flush toilets and lighting.
• Improvements to traffic flow.

Bihoy Mascarenhas, director of policy for the BC Trucking Association, calls the upgrades “a welcome investment in the people who keep our economy moving.”

"For commercial drivers, safe and accessible rest areas are essential infrastructure, not a luxury," he said.

"When drivers have reliable places to pull over, perform safety checks, take needed breaks and meet regulatory rest requirements, it supports both road safety and the efficient movement of goods across BC.”

The Province says it is supporting improvements at rest areas around BC through its $100-million Safety Rest Area Improvement Program.