No. H101/04 For release November 12, 2004 SALMON ARM, B.C. - Upgrades to the Trans-Canada Highway between Sorrento and Salmon Arm are now complete, providing motorists with a safer stretch of road to travel on. Over the past two years, the federal and provincial governments have contributed funding to upgrade this four-kilometre stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP). The total project was valued at $15.06 million. Transport Canada funded $5.32 million, or 50 per cent of the eligible costs. The primary construction contract was valued at $7.69 million and was completed by Emil Anderson Construction Limited. "Improvements to this section of the Trans-Canada Highway will increase safety and help reduce accidents," said federal Industry Minister David L. Emerson on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre. "This project is a good example of how the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia are working together to make real improvements to B.C.'s highway infrastructure." "The project ensures that travellers that use this section of the Trans-Canada Highway have a safer road to drive on," said Shuswap MLA George Abbott. "From Broderick Creek to Ford Road, the upgrade to a four-lane, 100 km/h series highway will improve conditions for motorists and allow for an increase in traffic capacity." The project includes: upgrading 4.2 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway to 100 km/h speed limit standards, increasing it to four lanes and adding a paved median; reconstructing the White Lake Road intersection to include grade separation and a right in/right out intersection; constructing 3.2 kilometres of new frontage roads for slow-moving farm vehicles and local traffic; reconfigurating the intersection and turn lane at Ford Road; relocating Carlin Hall to a new site next to Carlin Elementary School; extending Ford Road to intersect with Kirkpatrick Road; constructing frontage roads east and west of the Trans-Canada Highway; and closing and making cul-de-sacs of Kirkpatrick Road at the Trans-Canada Highway. "Moving farm vehicles onto the frontage roads, providing passing opportunities and removing seven direct access routes off the highway, should help reduce the accident rate in the area," said Abbott. Under the British Columbia SHIP agreement, the Governments of Canada and British Columbia are providing joint funding of $122.4 million until March 2006 for highway improvement projects in the province. A backgrounder with further information on SHIP is attached. -30- Contacts: Irène Marcheterre Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Transport, Ottawa (613) 991-0700 Dale Steeves Communications British Columbia Caucus, Victoria (250) 952-0778 Jacques Gravel Communications Transport Canada, Ottawa (613) 993-0055 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 STRATEGIC HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM The Government of Canada is committed to improving the economy and the quality of life for Canadians by investing in highway infrastructure across Canada. As part of this commitment, Transport Canada announced the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP) in April 2001. The program has two components: a $500 million highway construction component and a $100 million national system integration component. Under the highway component, the Government of Canada works with the provinces and territories to identify those parts of the National Highway System that - because of growing traffic and increasing trade - need immediate attention. This will result in a safer and more efficient highway system for all Canadians. An allocation formula determines how much federal funding each province and territory receives with a minimum of $4 million per jurisdiction plus a share based on population. Provinces and territories cost-share these projects on a 50-50 basis. Under this formula, the total federal allocation for the Province of New Brunswick is $14.6 million. Transport Canada has had six federal contribution programs with the province of New Brunswick since 1993 for a total of $740 million. Before any project begins, an environmental assessment is undertaken that meets the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Funding for projects is conditional on the results of the assessment and receipt of environmental approvals. Under the second component of SHIP, the government provides $100 million nationally to fund initiatives that better integrate the transportation system. These include the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems across Canada and improvements to border crossings and transportation planning. Intelligent Transportation Systems include applications such as advanced systems for traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle operations, emergency response management and vehicle safety. SHIP continues the Government of Canada's long tradition of highway funding that started more than 80 years ago. In fact, Transport Canada has invested more than $1.7 billion between 1993 and 2003 to improve highways across Canada. The Government of Canada also invests in transportation-related infrastructure through other programs such as the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Border Infrastructure Fund. For more information on the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, please visit www.tc.gc.ca/SHIP/menu.htm. November 2004
