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China Nose trails threat By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
KINGLY Christmas
Jackie Lieuwen/Houston Today
Houston Christian School elementary students performed a Christmas musical “The Gifts of the Magi” for their Christmas concert last Wednesday. Written by HCS teacher Jean Guenther, the musical focused on the Biblical story of the three kings and the gifts they brought in tribute to the baby Jesus. See page 12 for more.
Heading Creek Bridge is at risk of being decommissioned, challenging access to the popular hiking trails on China Nose. The owners, B.C. Timber Sales, are considering removing the bridge because it needs repairs and BCTS no longer operates in the area, said Greig Bethel, Public Affairs Officer for the Ministry of Forests. Bethel says the bridge will be “considered for deactivation within the next two years,” and is located on Heading East Forest Service Road, leading to the China Nose trail. Houston Hikers Director Andy Muma says losing that trail would be a big loss. “China Nose is probably our most popular trail in Houston,” he said. “It would be hard to replace.” Muma says the longer trail at the back of China Nose
was destroyed by the forest fire last August, but it could be back to being a nice trail in two years. “We’re definitely going to try and find someone interested to help us maintain that bridge,” Muma said. Before decommissioning a bridge, the BCTS talks to other users about transferring the roads. Bethel says Heading Creek bridge was offered to Dungate Community Forests and the Nadina Resource District of the Ministry of Forests. “Neither has indicated an interest in taking over the road,” he said. BCTS will also contact local stakeholders to determine the interest in maintaining the road, and discuss that interest with the Nadina Resource District. Bethel says they’re also considering removing the two bridges on the Balsam Forest Service Road, just off Buck Flats in the future.
Houston seeks partnership with MOTI on highway design By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
The District of Houston hopes to partner with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in a major Highway 16
design project in 2015. The draft 2015 District budget includes $30,000 of Gas Tax money for design work on the project. District staff and MOTI representatives met Dec. 9 to discuss highway projects near
Houston. Houston Chief Administrative Officer Michael Glavin says MOTI and the District are waiting to decide the next phase until Houston’s Transportation Master Plan is complete, ex-
pected in February 2015. MOTI District Manager Carl Lutz says their 2015 project list will be finalized and announced in early spring. “Resurfacing along Highway 16 is
Merry Christmas from all of us at Glacier Toyota. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you in 2015. God bless and safe travels
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a high priority for the Ministry and there are areas around Houston that we are examining,” he said. Though there are no commitments yet, Lutz says they are having ongoing discussions with the
District of Houston about highway improvements. They are also considering several other projects, including at the intersection of Highway 16 and Tweedie Avenue.
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They did a study this past summer looking at how vehicles and pedestrians use it, Lutz said. “We will continue to evaluate that data to determine what improvements are necessary.”
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