Dangerous but necessary
Rob Gibson – May 29, 2022 / 4:00 p.m. | History: 370080
Photo: Ministry of Transport of BC
This is not a job for people with weak hearts.
The mountainous landscape of British Columbia means that our highways pass through challenging terrain. The British Columbia Government’s rock work program ensures that rock falls are quickly cleared of roads and that fragile rock formations are safely removed or attached to mountain slopes to improve driver safety. These workers are responsible for about 47,000 kilometers of roads and 1,600 rock falls occur in the province of British Columbia every year.
Which means someone has to climb rocks and knock down loose stones and remove them before they fall and hit the highway or passing vehicles.
“The Rockwork program of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is dedicated to reducing the risk of rock falls for highway passengers by identifying, prioritizing and mitigating rock hazards across the province. The mountainous landscape of British Columbia, “said a spokesman for the British Columbia Department of Transport and Infrastructure.
British Columbia is home to some of the most picturesque landscapes in the country, but with heavy rainfall, lush vegetation and mountainous terrain, it is also prone to falling rocks and debris.
This means that a specialized team of professionals must respond every time a stone or debris falls.
“Our team of engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers have stepped up measures to reduce the impact of falling rocks and debris,” said the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
Rock falls occur more often in the spring when temperatures change and increased rainfall affects the slopes above the BC highways.
“Stone falls are a natural process and cannot always be prevented. In these cases, the ministry and its maintenance contractors take action to ensure that the highway is clear and safe for passengers.
@ meltedby9am Can you do this job? #fyp? Iris – Natalie Taylor
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