Free public WiFi will soon be installed at select rest areas across the province.
The free WiFi is being offered by a partnership between the province, TELUS and ICBC.
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Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Todd Stone said: “Our rest areas are critical to the tourism industry, as well as the commercial trucking sector by allowing drivers to rest and access washroom facilities. Earlier this month my ministry committed $9 million in funding over three years to improve the safety, comfort and convenience of rest areas. These improvements, along with the addition of Wi-Fi will be a key part of ensuring we deliver a competitive, world-class travel experience to visitors.”
It will be installed at 25 different rest areas, with five of those expected to be completed by spring 2017 at the following locations:
- Britton Creek Highway 5 – 67 kilometres south of Merritt
- Mt Terry Fox Highway 16 – 6km east of Tete Jaune
- Galena Bay Highway 23 – 49km north of Nakusp
- Glacier View Highway 16 – 7km north of Smithers
- Taylor River Highway 4 – 37km west of Port Alberni
The remaining 20 spots will be added in within the coming years.
“We’re very pleased to contribute to Wi-Fi being installed at rest areas around B.C., which will allow drivers to stay connected and avoid using their phones on the road,” said Mark Blucher, ICBC’s president and CEO. “More than 800 crashes occur every day in B.C., many of these caused by distracted driving. We need help from all British Columbians to help keep roads safe. By driving safely and following the rules of the road, you can help lower our claims costs and directly lower the rates you pay.”
