New $9.2M B.C. Truck Inspection Station Rises After Suspected Arson
Construction starts on $9.2 million CMV inspection station in B.C. after previous facility destroyed by suspected arson
Construction has begun on a new commercial vehicle inspection station along Highway 97 south of Prince George, British Columbia, after the previous facility was destroyed by a fire in late 2024.
The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit announced the start of work on September 21, 2026. The project, valued at $9.2 million, will rebuild the Red Rock Inspection Station and add a larger building to support commercial vehicle inspections along the Highway 97 corridor.
The project includes replacing the station’s weigh scale building and constructing a new inspection building with additional space. Provincial officials say the updated facility is intended to reduce the time truck drivers spend waiting for inspections while giving enforcement officers more modern infrastructure to carry out their work.
For professional drivers operating through northern British Columbia, the Red Rock station is part of the province’s effort to monitor the condition and safety of commercial vehicles moving freight through the region. The Highway 97 corridor is an important route for the movement of goods, and the rebuilt facility will restore inspection capacity at the site.
“Keeping unsafe commercial vehicles off the road is critical to protecting people and families who use our highways every day and to support the smooth movement of goods throughout northern B.C.,” Mike Farnworth, B.C.’s minister of transportation and transit, said in a statement.
“The newly rebuilt Red Rock Inspection Station will restore a critical facility, provide modern infrastructure for enforcement officers and support the province’s economy and supply chains,” Farnworth said.
Construction is expected to be completed in December 2027. The ministry did not provide additional details about how construction may affect traffic or commercial vehicle operations during the project.
Previous station destroyed in December 2024 fire
The former Red Rock Inspection Station was destroyed on December 24, 2024. Authorities have described the fire as suspected arson.
No one was inside the building when the fire occurred. One firefighter suffered minor injuries while responding to the blaze.
The loss left the province without the original inspection facility at the site. Rebuilding the station will return a permanent inspection location to the Highway 97 corridor and replace infrastructure that was lost in the fire.
Commercial vehicle inspection stations are used to assess trucks, trailers and other commercial vehicles for compliance with safety requirements. Inspections can include checks of vehicle condition and equipment, helping identify issues that could affect the safety of drivers, other road users and cargo operations.
The ministry said the new Red Rock facility will combine restored weighing operations with expanded inspection space. Officials expect the design to improve the efficiency of inspections and reduce delays for truckers while maintaining enforcement standards.
Until construction is complete, drivers traveling the corridor should rely on posted signs and directions from transportation officials for any operational changes connected to the project. The province’s stated completion target is December 2027.
