Overview:

Join the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT) for a technical driving tour of the Highway 99 (Duffey Lake Road) corridor. This tour examines the management of Ministry avalanche areas situated in a complex maritime-to-continental transition zone.

Technical Highlights:

Participants will engage in site-specific discussions regarding the passive measures and active avalanche safety program components used to ensure the safety of all highway users. Key stops include:

• Path 51.0 & RACS Deployment: A Technical review of Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS) and their role in conducting active (explosive) control missions to minimize the frequency and duration of avalanche-related road closures.

• Passive Measures & Engineered Mitigation: Field observation of structural interventions, including earthen mounds, diversions berms, and catchment basins.

• The MoTT Operational Model: Insights into how the Ministry integrates real-time telemetry, snowpack analysis, and avalanche hazard forecasts to maintain an acceptable operational risk band.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the efficacy of RACS in a high-consequence avalanche terrain.

• Discuss the lifecycle maintenance of passive mitigation unique to the Coast Mountains

• Exchange best practices on preventive closure protocols and safety margins with Ministry Avalanche Technicians