Many Nanaimo residents have seen the improvements along the Island Highway near the Nanaimo airport.
Those are among the nine road improvement projects ICBC invested in last year to help make roads safer.
“Road improvements deliver real value to our customers, and everyone on our roads, from drivers to pedestrians,” said John Pump, manager of ICBC’s road improvement program, in a press release. “Safer roads lead to fewer crashes and help prevent injuries and death, which also translates into lower claims costs and helps keep rates stable for our customers.”
A 2009 independent evaluation concluded that for every dollar invested, ICBC and customers see a return five to 12 times the investment. For every dollar invested, ICBC and customers save $5.60 over two years and $12.80 over five years in reduced crash costs. All proposed road improvement projects are assessed on their ability to make roads safer.
ICBC also participates in engineering safety studies and works with communities to make sure road safety issues are considered in the planning of roadways and managing traffic.
Projects underway or completed in 2010 in Nanaimo include:
u Area wide – Stop sign upgrades; Partner: City of Nanaimo; ICBC: $12,500
u Comox Road and Prideaux Street – Traffic signal upgrade; Partner: City of Nanaimo; ICBC: $5,000
u Haliburton Street and Needham Street – Stop signs upgrade; Partner: City of Nanaimo; ICBC: $7,500
u Hammond Bay Road – Departure Bay Road to Friar Tuck – Corridor improvements; Partner: City of Nanaimo; ICBC: $7,000
u Hammond Bay Road – Turner Road to Emil Place – Corridor improvements; Partner: City of Nanaimo; ICBC: $5,000
u Harewood Road – 4th Street to 5th Street – Corridor improvements; Partner: City of Nanaimo; ICBC: $1,500
u Jingle Pot Road and Westwood Road – Pedestrian crossing installation; Partner: City of Nanaimo; ICBC: $2,500
u Highway 1 near Nanaimo Airport – Geometric improvements; Partner: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure; ICBC contribution: $71,300
u Jingle Pot Road – Roadside improvements; Partner: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure; ICBC: $3,700
