First day for new South Okanagan highways contractor

PENTICTON – Today is the first day on the job for the province’s new road maintenance contractor in the South Okanagan.

Acciona Infrastructure Maintenance took over the reins from Argo Road Maintenance, whose contract expired yesterday.

Acciona also won the contract for the Okanagan Shuswap, which includes Vernon, Salmon Arm and Sicamous. That contract began on April 1.

The new agreement has a 10-year term with an optional five-year extension.

Argo had been the highways ministry’s contractor in the Okanagan since 1996.

Acciona is a large Spanish consortium with projects around the world, said Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Jamie Weiss in an email today, May 1.

The company has prior experience managing road operations and maintenance in Canada, including Autoroute 30 in Quebec and the South East Stoney Trail in Alberta.

Acciona is contractually bound to employ the existing unionized work force in their service areas, in addition to honouring the existing collective agreement.

Extensive information meetings have taken place to ensure Acciona is prepared to maintain the ministry’s high standards once the new contract begins.

“This ensures there is no reduction in service and the safest conditions are maintained on provincial roadways,” Weiss said in an email.

The new maintenance contract comes with higher standards and a more proactive approach for winter weather events.

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