The MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke is celebrating the BC government’s announcement of a project meant to protect wildlife near Radium Hot Springs.
Doug Clovechok is happy the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is developing an overpass over Highway 93/95 with the goal of preventing vehicle collisions with bighorn sheep.
A working group formed by Clovechok to find ways to protect the bighorn herd near Radium has called for an overpass to be built since 2020.
Clovechok calls the announcement an example of how an MLA can work with communities to get results on important issues.
View a statement from Clovechok’s office below:
It’s about time!
Concerned citizen’s calls to MLA Doug Clovechok have resulted in funding being secured for a major infrastructure project to help save the iconic Radium Bighorn Sheep.
Today the B.C. Government announced funding to build a wildlife overpass and fencing system just south of the Village of Radium Hot Springs along Highway 93/95.
Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and is 50 per cent funded by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Project partners include Parks Canada, TECK Resources, The Village of Radium Hot Springs, ICBC, the Habitat Conservation Fund, the Ktunaxa Nation Council, and the Shuswap Band.
“It has been my personal commitment as MLA to be approachable and accessible to my constituents in Columbia River-Revelstoke, to ensure that the issues I am fighting for are the issues that matter to those who live in this riding,” said Doug Clovechok. “This announcement is important for residents, tourists, and conservationists. It means that the roads will be much safer for wildlife and travelers, which is really at the heart of this issue.”
In 2019, Clovechok met with Lake Windermere Rod and Gun Club’s Rick Hoar and Kent Kebe, to discuss the alarming mortality rate of Bighorn Sheep due to traffic on the Radium hill along Highways 93 and 95.
Clovechok spearheaded the formation of a working group of professionals and experts best suited to address this decades-old concern.
In March 2020, the group began to share their insights regarding sheep’s behaviour in and around the Village of Radium Hot Springs, as well as highway data.
The group concluded that a highway overpass south of the village was the best option to reduce wildlife and vehicular conflict.
In the fall of 2020, the working group members approached their respective organizations to propose this solution.
Wildlife Biologist Tony Clevenger with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations requested and received funding for a study and report for this project.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) assigned a 10-person design team to assist with this project. MOTI also secured funding for a geotechnical survey of the hill, creating a concept of the overpass, and researching options for a fencing system.
“This project is an example of how an MLA can work with other elected officials, volunteers, and government agencies, to get results on issues that are important to a community. It all starts with the people who care – who reach out with their concerns, and I really want to thank them for doing that,” said Clovechok. “Both Ministries have tremendous staff who worked very hard on this file along with those who stepped forward as part of our working group. We should all be very proud that this project is going to happen due to those efforts. This is what can be accomplished when we work together towards a common goal.”
– With files from the Office of Doug Clovechok
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Nathan.Leigh@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @1029RewindRadio
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