No. H167/05
For release July 29, 2005
SPRUCE GROVE, Alberta - One of Alberta's most collision-prone highway
intersections has been replaced by the province's newest interchange.
The new interchange at Campsite Road and Highway 16 near Spruce Grove
eliminates the need for motorists to cross six lanes of highway-speed traffic
or three lanes when turning at the intersection. Senator Tommy Banks, on
behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre and Dr. Lyle Oberg, Alberta's
Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, officially opened the new
interchange today.
"This is good news for commuters, commercial traffic and visitors to the
area," said Sen. Banks. "Thanks to the new interchange, we can all enjoy a
safer roadway for years to come."
"The Government of Canada is committed to meeting and surpassing the
public's expectations by providing them with a safer, more efficient highway
system," said Mr. Lapierre. "This interchange is one way we are working to
improve the movement of people and goods in Alberta."
The federal and provincial governments jointly funded the interchange
through the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program. The federal government
provided $10 million, while the Alberta government provided the remaining $13
million.
"This new interchange alleviates a serious safety concern and better moves
traffic in this rapidly growing region," said Dr. Oberg.
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation reports that interchanges reduce
collisions by 45 per cent on average and are considered the safest way to
access or exit a highway. The new interchange also provides a direct
connection from Highway 16 to the recently-opened TransAlta Tri Leisure
Centre, a major recreation facility serving the residents of Spruce Grove,
Stony Plain, and Parkland County.
"My constituents are extremely pleased to see this interchange open and are
looking forward to travelling more safely through the area," said Mr. Doug
Horner, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and MLA for Spruce
Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert.
"The new interchange is a great addition to our community and provides
better and safer access for local residents and highway users," said Mr. Fred
Lindsay, MLA for Stony Plain.
Canada and Alberta signed the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program
agreement in 2001. Since that time, the governments of Canada and Alberta have
directed more than $92 million to improving infrastructure on National Highway
System highways in Alberta.
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Contacts:
Trent Bancarz
Communications
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation
(780) 427-0623
(Dial 310-0000 for toll free connection outside Edmonton)
Kirsten Goodnough
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
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BACKGROUNDER
STRATEGIC HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
In the February 2000 budget, the Government of Canada committed to improving
the economy and the quality of life for Canadians by investing up to $600
million over five years in highway infrastructure across Canada. In April 2001,
the government announced the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program. The
program consists of a highway construction component and a national system
integration component.
Under the highway construction component, $500 million, including $15 million
in administrative costs, is available to address the needs of Canada's highways.
The Government of Canada is working 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 has been developed to distribute the $485 million
available to the provinces and territories for road construction under the
program. The formula consists of a minimum of $4 million per jurisdiction plus a
share based on population and a 50-50 cost-sharing ratio. Under this formula,
the total federal allocation for the Province of Alberta is $46.2 million. Under
previous joint highway funding agreements since 1993, Transport Canada
contributed $30 million to Alberta. This brings the total funding from Transport
Canada to $76.2 million.
The Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program also includes a $100 million
component to fund initiatives that better integrate the transportation system.
These include the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems across
Canada, improvements to border crossings and better 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.
The program continues the Government of Canada's long tradition of highway
funding that started more than 80 years ago. In fact, Transport Canada will have
invested more than $1.8 billion between 1993 and 2004 to improve highways across
Canada. The federal government also invests in
transportation-related infrastructure through other programs such as the Canada
Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Border Infrastructure Fund. On May 9,
2003, the Prime Minister announced $150 million in federal funds to contribute
to the construction of ring roads around Calgary and Edmonton.
For more information on the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, please
visit www.tc.gc.ca/SHIP/menu.htm.
July 2005
