No. H106/04 For release November 17, 2004 SURREY, B.C. - Industry Minister David L. Emerson, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, along with British Columbia Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon, today announced that work to improve the movement of people and goods to and from Lower Mainland border crossings will begin next month with the construction of a new parallel bridge to increase the capacity of the Roger Pierlet Bridge on Highway 15, just south of Cloverdale. West Shore Constructors Ltd., of North Vancouver, has been awarded the $8.4-million contract to design and build a concrete bridge parallel to the existing bridge, which was built in 1973. The new bridge will carry two lanes of southbound traffic and will allow for the relocation of the existing rail line from the intersection of Highway 10 and 15, to run under the new bridge. "The construction of this new bridge demonstrates how the Government of Canada is working with the Province of British Columbia to improve B.C.'s highway infrastructure," said Mr. Emerson. "This project, along with several other upgrades to Highway 15, will help reduce congestion and increase safety at one of Canada's major border crossings." "I am pleased that construction to increase the capacity of Roger Pierlet Bridge will soon begin," said Mr. Lapierre. "Border Infrastructure Fund programs that expand border infrastructure capacity are essential to reducing congestion at our border crossings. "This work, along with other improvements to Highway 15, will provide for a continuous four-lane corridor from the Trans-Canada Highway to the Canada-U.S. border," said Mr. Falcon. "Better links between border crossings will improve efficiency and safety for travellers and the trucking industry and improve British Columbia's competitiveness." No major traffic disruptions are anticipated. The new bridge is expected to be completed by July 2006. It is part of an important transportation infrastructure project in Surrey to widen Highway10 and 15 to four lanes between 32nd Avenue and 88th Avenue and to widen Highway 10 to four lanes between 122nd Street and 172nd Street. This project is jointly funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia under the Border Infrastructure Fund. In 2001, the Government of Canada announced the $600 million Border Infrastructure Fund to support increased efficiency at Canada's borders. The fund is a comprehensive approach towards sustaining and increasing the long-term safety and efficiency of the Canada-U.S. border. The two central objectives of the Border Infrastructure Fund are to support the Smart Border Action Plan by reducing congestion, and to expand existing infrastructure capacity over the medium term to support growth. The program is being implemented in cooperation with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, academic and research institutes, and with partners from the public and private sectors on both sides of the border. A backgrounder with further information on the Border Infrastructure Fund is attached. -30- Contacts: Irène Marcheterre Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Transport, Ottawa (613) 991-0700 Vera Holiad Communications Transport Canada, Ottawa (613) 993-0055 Jeff Knight British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, Victoria (250) 356-7707 Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDER BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE FUND In Budget 2001, the Government of Canada announced its intention to provide $600 million to support improved efficiency at Canada's borders. The Border Infrastructure Fund is a comprehensive approach towards sustaining and increasing the long-term safety and efficiency of the Canada-U.S. border. It encompasses physical infrastructure, intelligent transportation systems, and helps support analytical capacity which will provide decision makers with better information on border issues as they pertain to congestion. In the wake of the events of September 11, 2001, the Government of Canada renewed its commitment to public and economic security by signing a declaration for the creation of a Smart Border for the 21st century between the United States and Canada. The Smart Border Action Plan is supported by four pillars: (i) secure flow of people, (ii) secure flow of goods, (iii) secure infrastructure, and (iv) coordination and information sharing in the enforcement of these objectives. The Border Infrastructure Fund is being implemented in co-operation with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, academic and research institutes, and with partners from the public and private sectors on both sides of the border to form an integral component of the Smart Border Action Plan. The two central objectives of the Border Infrastructure Fund are (1) to support the Smart Border Action Plan by reducing border congestion; and (2) to expand existing infrastructure capacity over the medium term to support ongoing economic growth. In fulfilling these objectives, funding is largely targeted towards major crossings, such as Windsor, Ontario; Sarnia, Ontario; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Fort Erie, Ontario; Douglas, British Columbia; and Lacolle, Quebec. The Government of Canada makes a maximum contribution of 50 per cent towards the total eligible costs of each project. All projects are selected under the authority of the Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities) based on the following investment criteria: Mitigation of congestion; Enhancement of system capacity; Coordination with adjacent U.S. border facility and road access network; Support implementation of the Smart Border Action Plan; Enhancing safety and security at border crossings; and Financial participation of other public and private sector partners. November 2004
