Variable speed signs are being installed on sections of the Coquihalla, the Trans-Canada, and the Sea to Sky Highway, as part of a pilot project to help reduce the frequency of weather-related crashes.

With the rapidly changing weather we get in parts of B.C., such as rain turning to snow very quickly, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is about to launch this new safety tool – electronic signs which will warn drivers to slow down in bad weather.

“As a part of our Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review, we looked at how we could help reduce crashes related to bad weather conditions. One of the ideas was to introduce new digital variable speed limit signs, in areas where the weather can change quickly and sometimes catch drivers off guard,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone. “The electronic signs will adjust the speed limit to let drivers know what speed they should be travelling
during winter weather conditions, to help them reach their destination safe and sound.”

Crews are installing 18 variable speed signs along Highway 1 from Perry River to Revelstoke, 13 along the Coquihalla from Portia Interchange to the former Toll Plaza and 16 along the Sea to Sky from Squamish to Function Junction.

There will be at least two to three months of testing before the systems go live. The testing phase is important, to ensure the systems are robust, reliable and appropriately calibrated to reflect highway conditions before they are turned on. The systems are expected to go live in early 2016