NRRM raises alarm about Alaska Highway safety near Pink Mountain

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) is raising the alarm about a campground entrance creating a hazard for Highway 97. 

According to a letter written by NRRM mayor Rob Fraser to the Peace River Regional District’s (PRRD) board of directors on January 8th, large commercial vehicles may be contributing to safety concerns surrounding the Pink Mountain Campsite. 

Fraser explained the campground has a single, narrow entrance which is causing commercial vehicles to stop in the turning lane while waiting to enter, becoming a hazard to other travellers. The entrance was recently redesigned, however the highway’s configuration has “proven to be problematic” and is “creating a hazard at times” for traffic in both directions. 

“Our site observations suggest drivers cannot complete legal turning movements from the turning lane and may need to swing into oncoming traffic,” Fraser wrote. 

The mayor explained that while the municipality is not the responsible authority to make adjustments to the highway, it was seeking feedback and support from the regional district regarding finding a solution. 

“A potential on-site improvement may be widening the entrance to improve turning movements,” Fraser said. 

“In the short term, measures such as warning signs, a temporary speed reduction or targeted enforcement could help reduce risk while longer-term options are considered.”

The letter was presented to the PRRD within the ‘correspondence’ section of the agenda, and was not discussed by the directors during the January 29th meeting.