Adapting Transportation Infrastructure to Climate Change
Last updated on December 6, 2024To provide transportation infrastructure that is resilient and adapted to the effects of climate change including extreme weather events, we must look beyond historical information to future trends and what they might mean for British Columbia.
With contributions from key partners such as the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC) and using the Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) Protocol, the Province has undertaken initiatives to evaluate and address potential effects of climate change on transportation infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. Additional guidance and examples for including climate change considerations in transportation infrastructure engineering design work have been developed in collaboration with Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC).
These activities contribute to B.C. transportation infrastructure that is resilient, reliable, effective and efficient – and adapted to future climate conditions.
Transportation Infrastructure Engineering Design
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit requires that potential impacts of climate change be considered in transportation infrastructure engineering design so that B.C.'s transportation infrastructure is adapted to climate changes. A climate language primer was also developed to clarify concepts and principles typically used in climate sciences.
- Technical Circular: T04-19 Resilient Infrastructure Engineering Design - Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Change and Weather Extremes
- B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Design Criteria Sheet (DOC)
- Climate Language Primer (PDF)
Highway Transportation – Adaptation, Risk Studies, Climate Modelling
Climate change adaptation studies enable the Province to develop guidance to address potential future climate impacts on B.C.'s highway infrastructure and other infrastructure. This work includes climate modelling, risk analysis of climate change and extreme weather, examining infrastructure interdependencies and economic considerations and developing best practices. This promotes a resilient transportation system adapted to extreme weather and other climate change effects.
Adaptation, Interdependency
- Developing a Climate Change Adaptation Interdependency Process with Economic Considerations (April 2020, revised 2024)
- B.C. Highway Infrastructure - Best Practices for Addressing Climate Change Adaptation (2014) (PDF)
- Engineering Analysis Report for the Climate Change Engineering Vulnerability Assessment (2014) (PDF, 9.4MB)
Risk Assessments
- Review of B.C. Highway Vulnerability Assessments and other Assessments (2014) (PDF)
- Highway 20 - Bella Coola Vulnerability Assessment (2014) (PDF, 2.5MB)
- Highway 37A - Stewart Vulnerability Assessment (2014) (PDF, 2.5MB)
- Highway 97 - Pine Pass Vulnerability Assessment (2014) (PDF, 2.5MB)
- Highway 16 - Yellowhead Vulnerability Assessment (2011) (PDF, 3.5MB)
- Highway 5 - Coquihalla Vulnerability Assessment (2010) (PDF, 6.7MB)
Climate Modelling
- Model Projections of Streamflow Design Values for the Fraser and Peace River Basins (2023) (4.4MB, PDF)
- Model Projections of Streamflow Design Values in the Fraser River Basin (2022) (17.1MB, PDF)
- Model Projections of Streamflow Design Values in the Upper Fraser River Basin (2021) (8.1MB, PDF)
- Analysis of Climate Change Projections for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Highways Risk Assessment (2014) (PDF, 2.7MB)