The former BC Transportation Minister thinks Yellowhead Road and Bridge will do just fine when they start maintaining the Coquihalla in July.

Todd Stone says the company would not have put in a bid if they couldn’t handle the workload.

“Back in April of 2017, the government actually negotiated enhanced road maintenance standards in exchange for labour certainty,” he said. “We were able to secure about $180-million over that 15 year period.”

“All of those dollars will go into enhanced maintenance, mostly winter maintenance. It’s welcome I’m sure to everyone in the Kamloops area, particularly to those who travel the Coquihalla.”

When asked his thoughts on VSA Highway Maintenance’s performance, Stone believes they’ve done a good job on one of the most difficult stretches of highway in North America.

“I don’t know of too many other highways that actually have a reality TV show,” he added. “But you know what, they’ll adjust.”

“I’m confident that the majority of folks who work for VSA – the men and women who are out in the trucks and doing the hard work, they’ll all land on their feet, likely, with Yellowhead, and continue to do the work that they do.”

Stone adds he’s sure that while VSA will be disappointed by the change, Yellowhead is not a newcomer to road maintenance.

VSA has had the contract for the Coquihalla and other area highways since 2004.