The Vancouver Island Highway Project (VIHP) is delivered by the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Highways. It is the largest highway project currently underway in Western Canada and the largest in the history of Vancouver Island. The project began in 1989 with staged completion of the new highway. The final new section will be completed in fall 2001 and upgrades to the existing highway are scheduled for a 2003 completion. VIHP crosses about 150 fish-bearing streams (e.g., streams supporting trout or salmon populations) with approximately 41 bridges, 11 multiplate culverts, 11 bottomless arch culverts, 52 corrugated steel culverts and 27 concrete box culverts. Various environmental mitigation, compensation and enhancement approaches have been used by VIHP. Given the high concentration of fish-bearing streams and other sensitive habitat the project crosses, there is a high level of environmental scrutiny, review and dialogue with environmental regulatory agencies, the public and environmental stewardship groups on this project. This case study describes the construction design and techniques and innovative environmental mitigation and enhancement works used on VIHP through the Morrison Creek Watershed. (Author/publisher).
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