The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) will be re-paving North Shore Highway 3A during this coming year from Johnstone Road to Balfour. Work will start in a few weeks. Re-paving will include the shoulders, which will be made as wide as paving conditions will allow. Cycling pleasure and safety along this beautiful route will be greatly improved.
Yellowhead Road and Bridge has the road and bridge maintenance contract. The first sweep on the North Shore has been completed. Almost all shoulder grading is done. Be aware that there will be some shoulder work on the go. A secondary sweep may be done later in the year.
The Big Orange Bridge flashing lights warning system warns drivers that there are cyclists on the bridge. Flashing lights are activated when a cyclist rides through a radar zone on the shoulder.
A cyclist stencil on the shoulder is a heads-up that the rider is nearing the activation zone. A second cyclist stencil marks the location of the activation zone where cyclists trigger the flashing lights. The lights flash for just over two minutes allowing cyclists to get across the bridge.
On the bridge, the cyclist can choose to stay on the right-hand side of the lane where drivers may follow behind or pass if safe to do so. Or, cyclists can choose to ride down the centre of the lane with vehicles following behind. Most cyclists seem to choose to stay to the right.
Cyclists are vulnerable and need to be alert and take care. Drivers need to carefully consider cyclists when crossing the bridge.
Happy cycling the North Shore!
Andrew Murray
Board member, West Kootenay Cycling Coalition
Nelson
