No. H218/05For release November 7, 2005
BROOKS, ALTA. - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of federal
Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, together with Alberta Minister of
Infrastructure and Transportation Dr. Lyle Oberg, today announced the opening of
an interchange on Trans-Canada Highway 1 at Cassils Road in Brooks, Alberta.
This project has been allocated $20.1 million, of which $7.16 million is federal
funding and $12.9 million is provincial funding. The funding comes from the
Canada/Alberta Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP).
The new interchange now allows traffic to move more safely and efficiently in
one of Alberta's fastest-growing communities.
"Brooks, Alberta should be known to all Canadians as an oasis on the Canadian
Prairies," said Minister McLellan. "The opening of this interchange will allow
the people of Brooks and surrounding areas to travel safely along this stretch
of the Trans-Canada Highway."
"Today's opening of the Cassils Road interchange is an example of what
governments can achieve when working together," said Mr. Lapierre "The new
interchange will enhance safety for motorists and increase the highway's
capacity to move goods quickly and efficiently throughout Southern Alberta."
The project replaced an existing at-grade intersection with a diamond
interchange and includes the realignment of both Cassils Road and an existing
service road. This section of Trans-Canada Highway 1 averages 7,500 vehicles per
day, 25 per cent of which are trucks. This percentage is high compared to the
provincial average of 14.5 per cent, illustrating this highway's significance in
the transportation of goods across Alberta.
"This new interchange is great news for Alberta's newest city and all users
of the highway," said Dr. Oberg. "On average, interchanges reduce collisions by
45 per cent in Alberta and I expect this new interchange will meet or exceed
that average."
The Canada/Alberta Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program agreement, signed
August 23, 2001, is part of the national $600-million SHIP program. Under the
agreement, the Government of Canada agreed to provide a minimum of $46.2 million
for specified and cost-shared highway improvement projects in the province.
Federal funding for this project is built into the existing financial framework.
A backgrounder with further information on SHIP is
attached.
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Contacts:
Irène Marcheterre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Robin Browne
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Bart Johnson
Communications Director
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation
(780) 415-1841
310-0000 toll free access outside Edmonton
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.
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BACKGROUNDER
STRATEGIC HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM - ALBERTA
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, which formally began in fiscal year 2002-2003, has two components.
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.
Environmental assessments that meet the requirements of the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act are undertaken before projects begin. Funding for
projects is conditional on the results of these assessments and receipt of
environmental approvals.
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.
For more information on the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, please
visit www.tc.gc.ca/SHIP/menu.htm.
November 2005
