WHEREAS the Province has budgeted an additional 90 million over three years to address the increased log hauling impact on Ministry of Transportation roads in resource areas; AND WHEREAS the Ministry of Forests has budgeted an additional 20.7 million over two years to address this impact on forest service roads: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government provide local government with significant additional financial resources to address the impact of this increased log and finished wood products hauling on municipal road infrastructure.
Ministry of Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for Housing Road systems across the Interior are seeing greater industrial use due to increased salvage harvesting of mountain pine beetle-attacked timber. The Province of British Columbia Province is investing more than 110 million in maintaining beetle-affected provincial highways and forest service roads. Municipal road infrastructure is the responsibility and jurisdiction of municipalities. These funds will ensure the Provinces highways and forest service roads can stand up to the increased loads, and provide a safe and reliable surface for the traveling public. A key objective of the provincial Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan is maintaining and protecting worker and public health and safety. The Government of British Columbia is firmly committed to safety in the woods, as well as to safety on our forest service roads and highways. To date, the Ministry of Transportation has upgraded 660 kilometres of roads and highways to help support increased harvesting of beetle wood. This year the Ministry of Forests and Range Ministry is making safety-related improvements and upgrades to 160 kilometres of forest service roads, including three bridges, this year. The Ministry is also funding the maintenance of non-industrial roads that provide access to isolated year-round communities, or access to recreation sites.