Vancouver Island highway lighting going green
The Voice of Canada News:
Vancouver Island will be the first region in B.C. to upgrade lighting infrastructure along provincial highways and roadways to LEDs, improving visibility for drivers and benefiting the environment.
“Moving to LED lighting on our provincial highways and roads will use less energy, reduce maintenance costs and – most importantly – help drivers to see better, especially at night,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “Our government’s approach helps keep our transportation network running safely, reliably and efficiently, now and into the future.”
Once the Province has completed the LED upgrades to the remaining 24,000 lighting fixtures, provincial energy costs are expected to be reduced by more than $2 million each year.
“Tackling climate change is critically important for all of us, and finding ways – big and small – to lower our energy usage is part and parcel of our vision of a greener tomorrow,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. “Moving to LED lighting on our provincial highways and roadways saves energy, reduces costs and increases safety – a great example of how a green choice can also be the best choice.”
The Ministry of Transportaton and Infrastructure is already incorporating LED infrastructure into new projects. The replacement of lighting along provincial highways and roadways with LED fixtures is part of its new and improved electrical maintenance standards, which include:
- replacing all non-LED lighting with the energy-saving LEDs;
- increased routine maintenance to address increased electrical inventory types; and
- streamlined processes for administering non-routine work and new installations.
The ministry awards contracts to private companies to maintain electrical infrastructure along approximately 47,000 kilometres of provincial highways and roadways, providing an essential service to the people who live and work in the province. Each contractor is responsible for repairs and maintenance of overhead/streetlights, traffic and pedestrian signals, and tunnel and snowshed lighting, as well as electronic signs and web cameras.
Raylec Power LP assumed responsibility for electrical maintenance under the new and improved standards on Vancouver Island as of Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. The electrical maintenance contract will be effective until Aug. 31, 2025, with an option for a five-year extension.
All five regions will assume the new and improved electrical maintenance standards by 2022, through a staggered open-bidding process.
The ministry works closely with all contractors and WorkSafeBC to ensure health and safety are maintained for all workers on site.
B.C.’s provincial health officer has directed construction employers to take all necessary precautions to minimize the risks of COVID-19 transmission and illness to themselves and their employees. Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, such as sore throat, fever, sneezing or coughing, will be directed to self-isolate at home for at least 10 days.
