The awards recognize Binnie’s work in Construction Management and Supervision, as well as Design and Contract Preparation for Roads.

The first award recognizes Binnie’s work on a project in the province’s Northern Region – the Highway 16 Sande – Keith Intersection Upgrade Project located in Terrace, BC.
The intersection of Sande and Keith Avenues on Highway 16 is the main intersection in Terrace and very busy with traffic heading to the ferry and the nearby hospital, and trucks heading through the highway corridor. The intersection was stop sign controlled for some directions of travel and no stopping for others. Through traffic going along Highway 16 was also causing delays to motorists trying to cross the highway.

The Ministry retained Binnie on the project in late 2014. Working under an aggressive timeline, and full-time on the design for several months, the team completed the design in June 2015, just in time for the summer construction window. Now fully signalized with two left-hand turn lanes, the new intersection has solved the traffic problems for the community of Terrace. There are improved crossings for pedestrians and new pedestrian lights, as well as improvements to nearby side streets. Overall the level of service has been greatly improved.

The second award recognizes Binnie’s work on the $13 million Highway 33 Big White Southbound Passing Lane – a project that has uncovered several archaeological finds in the Okanagan area.

The project involved the reconstruction of three kilometres of Highway 33, the addition of a passing lane, construction of a segment of Big White Road, relocation and construction of the Highway 33/Big White Road intersection, addition of a left turn bay, northbound acceleration and deceleration lanes, and the construction of new winter maintenance facilities.

As they were clearing the land, contractors discovered lithic fragments, which are evidence of habitation, signs that First Nations people had been making hunting tools in the area. The Okanagan Indian Band and Westbank First Nations were brought onto the project to monitor and conduct the digs, causing extended delays in the design excavations.

Over the two-year project the team faced many unforeseen challenges, including archaeological finds, a FortisBC lockout, and discovery of PAG rock, potentially acid-producing rock.