Highway 16 - 2nd Avenue and McBride Street Intersection Improvements

The Highway 16 - 2nd Avenue and McBride Street Intersection Improvements project is located within the City of Prince Rupert. This project was identified in a corridor study, with preliminary investigations and options analysis done in 2017.

The project included the construction of a new roundabout, bringing major safety improvements, better pedestrian access and smoother traffic flow to Prince Rupert.

Work on the roundabout also included a new 3-metre multi-use pathway as well as accessibility, signage, lighting and transit improvements. Some of these enhancements included:

• Bicycle ramps
• 10 new LED streetlights
• 2 new bus passenger shelters
• New crosswalks with push-activated flashing beacons and safe splitter-islands (refuges)
• Modern tactile walking surface indicator mats to improve accessibility and alert people with vision impairments of the street crossings

We also worked closely with the City of Prince Rupert to bring much-needed improvements to municipal infrastructure along the provincial right-of-way at this intersection.

Project status

The project is substantially complete with minor works expected to be completed in spring 2026.

Project benefits

This project was a priority given its ability to meet government mandates of reducing greenhouse gases, promoting active transportation, and stimulating the rural economy, and is a major contribution to overall efforts of the City of Prince Rupert to revitalize its downtown.

This project represents significant improvements for drivers and pedestrians in this busy urban area, offering a safer alternative to the current three-way intersection at the location.

In addition to transportation benefits that the intersection upgrades provide, the project worked with the City of Prince Rupert to bring much-needed improvements to underground water, storm and sewer infrastructure along the Provincial right-of-way at this intersection.

Project cost

The total project budget is $18 million and includes the municipal infrastructure in Prince Rupert’s jurisdiction, with a contract awarded to IDL Projects Inc.