Chase Four-Laning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Find answers to some frequently asked questions about the project. 

On this page:

• Noise
  • How were noise levels assessed and are they still being assessed?
  • How will the project impact noise levels in the Village? 
  • Does the project include noise mitigation?
  • Will there be signs regarding the use of engine brakes?
  • Has the Ministry considered using Low-Noise Pavement?
• Construction
  • How was the public informed on monthly construction activities and traffic impacts?
  • What sort of rock work was required?
  • What is shotcrete and how does it work?
  • Why wasn't mesh used for additional stability?
  • How is shotcrete applied?
  • Why was there a mound of dirt on Foothills Drive throughout the project?
• Safety
  • How does this project improve safety?
  • What measures were in place to protect workers and the public?
  • Why did the ministry propose an emergency gate at Coburn Street?
  • What will be the speed limit when the project is complete?
• Design
  • What will the drainage look like within the Village of Chase once the project is complete?
  • What was considered during the drainage design within the Village of Chase?
  • Why does the design not include an interchange at Coburn Street instead of Brooke Drive?
  • How will highway traffic access the Village of Chase after construction is complete?
  • Are there impacts to the existing cemetery near the highway right of way?
  • Is Brooke Drive the same width as before construction?
• Active transportation

  • How does this project accommodate pedestrians and cyclists? Does it integrate with the Scatchard Trail network improvements?

• Public consultation

  • How is public and local community feedback being considered?

Noise

How were noise levels assessed and are they still being assessed?

• Prior to beginning construction, the ministry completed noise assessments of the highway within the project area to establish baseline noise levels.
• Interim testing was completed in winter 2023, finding the pre-construction and current noise levels to be similar or slightly lower than the baseline noise levels.
• The ministry has retained a qualified noise consultant to conduct post-construction noise testing over a 48-hour period in November 2025 in accordance with the ministry’s Noise Policy. A final report is anticipated in early 2026.
• To conduct this post-project noise monitoring, microphones were setup on the north (Chase) side of Highway 1 at representative residential properties to ensure the full extent of the project site was monitored.
• For more information, please read the ministry’s Noise Policy (PDF,  300K)
• Project-related Noise Assessment Reports can be found through the following links:
  • Highway 1 - Chase West to Jade Mountain - Traffic Noise Impact Assessment - February 2020
  • Memorandum - Clarification for Traffic Noise Assessment Report in Chase, BC - March 25, 2024
  • Memorandum - Highway 1 Chase West to Jade Mountain - 2023 Noise Monitoring - December 14, 2023

How will the project impact noise levels in the Village? 

• Considering the new highway design and the projected traffic volume increase over the next 10 years, the change in noise levels is not anticipated to be clearly noticeable.

Does the project include noise mitigation?

• The ministry applies its Noise Policy when considering whether to install post-project noise mitigation. The assessments will be done after all changes to the highway have been implemented to ensure accuracy.
• The ministry has retained a qualified noise consultant to conduct post-construction noise testing over a 48-hour period in November 2025 in accordance with the ministry’s Noise Policy. A final report is anticipated in early 2026.

Will there be signs regarding the use of engine brakes?

• The project installed signs during construction advising commercial vehicles to avoid the use of engine brakes and/or gear down. 
•  Westbound there is a "Trucks Gear Down" sign near the top of Jade Mountain. For safety reasons, commercial vehicles cannot be advised to avoid engine breaks on Jade Hill; therefor a "Trucks Gear Down" sign is installed at the top of Jade Hill.

Has the Ministry considered using Low-Noise Pavement?

• Low noise pavement was considered by the project team; however, it was not recommended for this project due to its higher air void content, which creates freeze / thaw and longevity problems for the asphalt. Additionally, the benefits of Low noise pavement are achieved only in areas with low truck percentages, making it not recommended for this area of Highway 1 due to its high percentage of truck volumes.

Construction

How was the public informed on monthly construction activities and traffic impacts?

• The project team provided the public with updates on key project activities and traffic impacts as the project progresses. These updates were published monthly in the Chase Sunflower and on the project website. Additionally, road closure updates were posted on www.drivebc.ca.

What sort of rock work was required?

• The contractor scaled and bolted the rock on site to ensure the final rock cut remained stable, and this will continue during periods of active construction. Scaling is the process of removing loose rocks, while bolting is the process of installing steel bars and cementing them in drill holes to provide additional stability to the rock.

What is shotcrete and how does it work?

• Shotcrete is a form of concrete that is sprayed onto rocks that have been reinforced with bolts to hold slopes and rock faces in place. It became widely used in tunneling and rock excavation in the 1930s. It is part of the Chase East project design to facilitate four-laning in areas where extensive blasting was required.

Why wasn't mesh used for additional stability?

• An alternative design, which substitutes polypropylene fiber instead of wire mesh to reinforce the shotcrete, was being used. Polypropylene fiber reinforcement provides additional crack resistance, improving the flexibility of the shotcrete while still being as strong as wire mesh.

How is shotcrete applied?

• Shotcrete is sprayed onto wet rock that has been cleaned of loose debris and dust, making it easier for the shotcrete to adhere to the rock surface. Air pressure from the spray nozzle directs a high-speed, steady stream of shotcrete, which compacts as it hits the rock surface.

Why was there a mound of dirt on Foothills Drive throughout the project?

• This area served as a permanent storage location for excavated material from other locations within the project corridor. The stockpile changed throughout construction as material was added and the pile was shaped.  This pile has been seeded to help prevent weeds and provide a natural aesthetic.

Safety

How does this project improve safety?

• Four-laning with median and roadside barriers greatly reduces the potential for head on collisions.
• The primary access to the Village of Chase is now a grade-separated interchange at Brooke Drive, eliminating left turn movements across oncoming traffic.
• Protected T-intersections were completed within the Chase West project limits that allow for access to Chase from the west, as well as to Chase Creek Road (Chase-Falkland Road). These provide safe acceleration and deceleration opportunities and allow turning vehicles to wait for a safe opportunity to access or exit the highway.
• Consolidated accesses with appropriate acceleration and deceleration opportunities will greatly reduce the likelihood of collision when entering/exiting the highway.
• Improved highway geometrics will allow vehicles to safely travel at an increased speed.
• Grade-separated pedestrian crossings reduce the potential for vehicle/pedestrian conflicts.

What measures were in place to protect workers and the public?

• The contractor used industry best practices while stabilizing the rock, and the ministry and the contractor worked together closely to monitor the site during active construction, as well as during periods of inactivity. This included safety measures such as traffic control, berms, barriers, set-back distances and exclusion zones to protect workers and the travelling public.
• To protect Scatchard Trail users, fencing was installed along the edge of the trail in areas where pedestrians are exposed above the steep slopes on the highway.

Why did the ministry propose an emergency gate at Coburn Street?

• Maintaining access for emergency services is a priority and an emergency gate at Coburn Street provides direct highway access in the westbound direction for emergency vehicles.
• An advance warning sign with flashing lights has been installed on Jade Mountain to notify westbound traffic when there is an emergency and direct them to move into the left lane to allow emergency services to safely enter the highway. 

What will be the speed limit when the project is complete?

• The posted speed limit will be 100 km/h once the project is completed. 

Design

What will the drainage look like within the Village of Chase once the project is complete?

• Drainage within the Village of Chase is substantially complete and has been upgraded to a combination of open and enclosed drainage. Open drainage includes ditches and swales, and enclosed drainage includes pipes and culverts.

What was considered during the drainage design within the Village of Chase?

• The project had to incorporate the existing conditions within the Village of Chase. This included tying into the open and enclosed drainage and ensuring proper water management from adjacent properties.
• Due to flat grades, the drainage system had to be designed for proper water movement. Using open drainage, which is closer to the surface at the beginning of the network, helps to ensure adequate water flow where enclosed drainage is not possible.
• Open drainage is better for the environment because it allows for rainwater to be absorbed back into the soil, while improving the quality of water that flows downstream. It is also more cost effective, and easier to maintain than enclosed drainage.

Why does the design not include an interchange at Coburn Street instead of Brooke Drive?

• The Brooke Drive location was selected based on technical reasons and this location was broadly supported at the 2017 public open house.
• The Coburn Street interchange option has significant adverse impacts compared to Brooke Drive, including to property, businesses, archaeological sites, drainage and cost.
• Coburn Street and the Coburn Street Bridge lack the capacity required for commercial transportation traffic. This would create further impacts to property and cost.

How will highway traffic access the Village of Chase after construction is complete?

• There are three access points to the Village of Chase. The access points include the following:
• COMPLETED: Shuswap Avenue West (near the Petro-Canada/A&W). This access has been moved roughly 0.5 km to the west and is a full-movement (both east and westbound acceleration and deceleration lanes) protected T-intersection.
• COMPLETED: Brooke Drive interchange. This grade separated interchange (including an underpass and roundabout) is now the primary entrance to the Village.
• EXISTING: Shuswap Avenue East (Jade Mountain). This intersection will remain in the current condition as requested by the Village of Chase.

Are there impacts to the existing cemetery near the highway right of way?

• During construction, the cemetery was accessible via Foothills Road until the Brooke Drive Interchange was completed.

Is Brooke Drive the same width as before construction?

• Prior to construction, Brooke Drive had a maximum width of 9 metres, which included a 1.3 metre shoulder on the east side. Following construction, Brooke Drive is now 10.6 metres wide and will include curb and gutter, a 2 metre sidewalk on the east side and a 1 metre shoulder on the west side.

Active transportation

How does this project accommodate pedestrians and cyclists? Does it integrate with the Scatchard Trail network improvements?

• The new Brooke Drive interchange includes sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians and cyclists to cross underneath the highway to access the Scatchard Trails.
• A new pedestrian path was added to the Chase Creek Bridge to connect pedestrians from the Chase Creek Falls trail to the Scatchard Trails. A path between Chase Creek Bridge and Foothills Road will complete the connection. The pathway will be constructed with an accessible hard pack gravel.
• To protect Scatchard Trail users, fencing was installed along the edge of the trail in areas where pedestrians are exposed above the steep slopes on the highway.

Public consultation

How is public and local community feedback being considered?

• Community feedback was considered along with engineering, environmental and financial information, and feedback from local government and First Nations.
• As an example, in 2017, the Brooke Drive interchange option was identified as the community’s preferred option for the following reasons:
  • Increased opportunity for development
  • Minimal impacts to residents and businesses
  • Support for adjacent land use
  • Improved connectivity to local road network
• Refer to Page 6 of the January 2021 Chase Four-Laning Information Boards (PDF, 11.7MB) for additional examples of feedback that has been considered and is reflected in the design.
• We appreciate everyone's patience and feedback throughout the duration of the project.  
• Feedback about the completed project can be directed to: chasefourlaning@gov.bc.ca.