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Brewski tour comes to Fernie - Page 13 SPARWOOD
Lilac Terrace rents kitchen space - Page 3 Hywel Davies was the winner of Retro Weekend’s dance-off at Fernie Alpine Resort. For more photos and the full story turn to page 2.
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Photo by S. Kucharski
Safer roads for Elk Valley, South Country By Katelyn Dingman Free Press Staff
Behind the Scene art exhibit - Page 15
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Former Ghostrider crushes ice - Page 16
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new high-tech wildlife detection system will be introduced in the East Kootenays as part of the B.C. government’s new 10-year transportation plan titled B.C. on the Move. Over the next three years, the government plans to invest $75 million in a new Road Safety Improvement Program, part of the “Improving Highway Safety” section of B.C. on the Move, which will include the wildlife detection system. The hope of this detection system is to find an effective technology
solution that will reduce the number of wildlife incidents. The system would warn motorists about the potential for collisions beforehand. “Two wildlife detection systems will be installed this summer on Highway 3 between Cranbrook and Sparwood, in the highest wildlife collision areas on the corridor,” said Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett. “The success of this new technology will be monitored to determine future locations to expand these systems in the East Kootenays to further ensure driver safety.” RCMP Staff Sgt. Lorne Craig said he believes the incorporation of this technology will benefit the Elk Valley.
“We do get a fairly large number of motor vehicle versus wildlife crashes in our area just due to the large population of deer and elk,” Craig said. “Anything that can reduce vehicle crashes and reduce injuries to the motoring public is a benefit.” Along with the wildlife detection system, resurfacing projects between Cranbrook and the Alberta border will also take place this season, including the resurfacing of the 12 kilometers of highway between Elko and the Elko tunnel. As part of B.C. on the Move, the 10-year transportation plan will also entail the continued expansion of Highway 3 passing lanes from east
of Cranbrook to the Alberta border. “The actions prioritized in B.C. on the Move will enhance safety, grow the economy, maintain and replace aging infrastructure and support trade for B.C.’s expanding resource sectors through Canada’s AsiaPacific Gateway,” the BC Liberal Government Caucus press release read. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) plans to invest a total of $2.5 billion over the next three years to improve British Columbia’s transportation network. For more information, visit h t t p : / / e n g a g e . g o v. b c . c a / transportationplan/