Highway 19A Study Identifies Potential Safety Improvements Between Oyster River and Campbell River

by | Sep 8, 2026 01:54 | Local

OYSTER RIVER — A new transportation study is pointing to a number of potential improvements along Highway 19A, with a focus on making the corridor safer and more accessible for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users.

The study, completed by Urban Systems Ltd. for the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit with support from the Strathcona Regional District, examined portions of Highway 19A between Oyster River and Jubilee Parkway in Campbell River.

The corridor is an important connection for residents travelling between rural communities, neighbourhoods, schools, businesses, parks, beaches and other destinations. For people in the Sayward area, Highway 19A is also part of the route used to reach services and communities farther south.

According to the Strathcona Regional District, the study identified opportunities involving road safety, access management, active transportation and signage. It also identified locations where additional technical work could help determine which improvements should move forward.

A focus on safer connections

The study looked beyond vehicle traffic alone. Recommendations and opportunities identified through the work include improving connections for people walking and cycling, addressing access along the highway and making travel safer for transit users.

The Ministry and regional district developed the study with input from local First Nations, School District 72, BC Transit and other community and government partners.

That broader consultation is important because Highway 19A serves a wide range of users—from commuters and commercial traffic to people walking, cycling or taking public transit.

Strathcona Regional District Area D Director John Rice said improving safety along Highway 19A has been a longstanding concern for residents.

The completed study now provides a clearer picture of the corridor’s transportation challenges and potential solutions, while creating a foundation for future investment.

Study does not mean construction is imminent

While the findings identify possible improvements, residents should not interpret the study as a commitment that all of the proposed changes will immediately be built.

The regional district says some opportunities will require additional technical analysis, design work, consultation and funding before implementation can be considered. The study itself is not currently available online.

The announcement comes as transportation improvements continue elsewhere along the Highway 19A corridor.

In Campbell River, the city’s 2026 Master Transportation Plan includes transportation safety and connectivity projects, including planned safety improvements at the Highway 19A and Shoppers Row intersection, as well as additional pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

The province has also scheduled resurfacing work on Highway 19A in the Royston Road and Campbell River area as part of a $102.5-million 2026 investment in road improvements across B.C.’s South Coast.

What it could mean for the North Island

For communities farther north, the study is significant because Highway 19A is more than a Campbell River commuter route. It is part of the transportation network connecting rural communities with the services, employment, schools, health care and businesses concentrated farther south.

Any future improvements that make the corridor safer or easier to navigate could therefore have benefits well beyond the immediate study area.

For now, however, the study represents a planning step rather than a construction announcement.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit and its regional partners will need to determine which recommendations should be advanced, how they should be designed and how future projects will be funded.

For residents who regularly travel Highway 19A, the completion of the study is nevertheless an important development: after years of concerns about safety and connectivity, government planners now have a more detailed assessment of where improvements could make the biggest difference.

New Study Points To Cooperation Between Orcas And Dolphins While Feeding

by | Dec 12, 2025 23:57 | Local

Researchers have documented what appears to be cooperative hunting between northern resident killer whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins off the coast of British Columbia—an interaction not previously confirmed between these two species.

The discovery comes from drone footage, underwater video, and tracking data collected near Vancouver Island. Scientists recorded hundreds of encounters where dolphins and orcas foraged side by side, often diving and moving in unison while searching for Chinook salmon.

During these events, killer whales were seen orienting toward nearby dolphins and following them into deeper waters. Researchers suggest the whales may be taking advantage of the dolphins’ echolocation skills to locate salmon—a prey species too large for dolphins to capture themselves.

Once an orca secured a salmon and tore it into smaller pieces, dolphins frequently fed on the remains. Remarkably, no aggression was observed between the species, despite killer whales being known to prey on dolphins in other regions.

The synchronized movements and repeated interactions point to more than coincidence, hinting at a level of coordination that challenges long-held assumptions about how marine predators interact while feeding.

Scientists propose that the relationship may be mutually beneficial: orcas conserve energy by leveraging dolphin echolocation, while dolphins gain access to a valuable food source and possible protection from being near a top predator.

Still, some experts urge caution, noting that further study is needed to determine whether this represents true cooperation or simply opportunistic feeding by dolphins.

This finding adds to a growing body of evidence that marine mammals display complex, adaptable social behaviours, offering fresh insight into how species may respond to shifting ocean conditions and food availability.

Watch the video here.