A new median gate at Nanoose Flats on the Island Highway will allow traffic to be rerouted during emergencies.
The section of highway north of Nanaimo, between Rumming and Summerset roads, was chosen for an emergency access median gate because of high traffic volumes and the lack of a detour route at this location, according to an e-mail to the News Bulletin from the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The median gate is the first of its kind in B.C. and was designed to reduce delays to the travelling public during incidents that block the travel lanes.
During a highway closure, emergency responders will allow vehicles to cross the median through the gate, and provide a temporary counterflow traffic system on the other half of the highway.
Sgt. Darrin Ramey, of RCMP Central Island Traffic Services, said the gate system was tested Friday night by the transport ministry and highway maintenance contractor Emcon Services.
"It's a pretty big deal because it's not just pulling a pin and swinging a gate," Ramey said. "You've got to put up a few kilometres of cones because you're going to have traffic going both directions in one lane."
Throughout 2014-15, 23 collisions were recorded on the stretch of highway, which was not identified as a "high crash" area for this type of provincial highway.
This $150,000 project was completed last fall as part of the ministry’s 2015 community safety enhancement program on Vancouver Island.