British Columbia announced plans to build a new 150-truck parking facility on Highway 17 as well as streamline the permitting process for over-dimensional loads.
Construction on the parking facility will begin this summer at the site on the north side of the highway, just east of the Port Mann Bridge, and should be completed by winter 2018, the government announced. Facilities will include washrooms and showers, as well as security measures including fencing and lighting.
It’s the second such facility announced for the Lower Mainland under a 10-year transportation plan known as BC on the Move. The first was built on Highway 91 at Nordel Way in Delta, and can hold up to 40 vehicles.
Also announced are plans for regulatory changes to replace permitting requirements for low-risk oversize and overweight vehicles. That could reportedly save the industry $8 million a year in permitting fees, the government says, referring to changes that are to come this fall. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will increase the maximum weight allowed on 10-axle container trucks, and examine new tire and axle technologies.
“The BC Trucking Association appreciates the provincial government taking a leadership role in creating a new truck parking facility, as well as the other improvements,” said BC Trucking Association president and CEO Louise Yako. “These initiatives not only eliminate red tape and improve safety, but will help the industry to be more efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, consumers will benefit because a more efficient trucking industry means cost-effective goods movement.”
