FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta, August 29, 2006 -- The Government
of Canada today announced its commitment to invest up to $150 million
toward the cost of twinning a 146-km section of Highway 63.
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TBD), Brian Jean, Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities,
made the announcement with the Honourable Ty Lund, Minister of Alberta
Infrastructure and Transportation, and the Honourable Guy Boutilier,
Minister of Alberta Environment and Member of the Legislative Assembly for
the Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo Constituency.
The Alberta government will provide the
remaining $170 million of the $320-million project, which includes the
design and construction of two additional lanes to the existing two-lane
Highway 63 from Highway 55 near Grassland to north of Mariana
Lake. In addition to funding the remaining $170 million for
this project, the Alberta government will pay the full cost, estimated at
$360 million, of twinning the remaining stretch of Highway 63 from north
of Mariana Lake to Fort McMurray.
Improvements to Highway 63 will result in a
safer and more efficient road system.
"Highway 63 is an important transportation
roadway. The Government of Canada, in partnership with the Province, is
proud to improve access to Fort McMurray and to support more efficient
movement of people and goods in the Wood Buffalo Region," said Minister
Cannon.
"This project will improve the safety of
Canadians travelling this route while contributing to economic growth in
the area," said Parliamentary Secretary Brian Jean. "The highway will be
upgraded to meet provincial expressway standards, and will provide drivers
with safer intersections, a wide median divider and paved shoulders to
accommodate oversize loads. There should be a reduction in vehicle
collisions and fatalities."
"The Alberta government committed earlier
this year to twinning the entire 240-km stretch of Highway 63 from Fort
McMurray south to Highway 55," Minister Lund said. "We are very
pleased the Government of Canada has recognized the importance of this
project to northeastern Alberta and has agreed to contribute to the cost
of its construction."
"As MLA for the Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo
region and a long-time advocate for twinning Highway 63, I see today as an
important step forward," said Minister Boutilier. "Today's announcement
will build upon the work we have already started as we continue making
this highway safer for drivers. It also allows us to invest more funding
in an area of the province that contributes so much to Alberta."
The federal and provincial governments are
working together to develop a contribution agreement that will detail the
project elements and federal funding parameters. Financial support is
conditional on meeting applicable federal and provincial requirements,
including the successful completion of environmental assessments required
under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
The federal contribution comes from the
Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which supports large-scale projects
of major national and regional significance. The goal of this fund is to
strengthen areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and
enhancing quality of life for Canadians. Contributions from the Canada
Strategic Infrastructure Fund have also been dedicated to the construction
of ring roads in the cities of Calgary and Edmonton. Funding in the amount
of $75 million per project was committed to assist in the construction of
these roadways.
The Government of Canada's 2006 Budget
committed an unprecedented $16.5 billion over the next four years for
provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure, including an
additional $2 billion for the Canada Strategic
Infrastructure Fund and $2.4 billion for the new Highways and Border
Infrastructure Fund. In addition, the Government of Canada is committing
$88 million to municipal infrastructure needs across Alberta, and is
providing $476.9 million in gas tax transfers to municipalities to use on
infrastructure. This is in addition to another $40 million for Alberta
transit needs through the Public Transit Fund. For more information on
Infrastructure Canada and its programs, please visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
The Government of Alberta also announced
record funding in this year's three-year Capital Plan. The province
is investing nearly $15 billion over three years in Alberta's schools,
healthcare facilities, post-secondary projects, roads and municipal
infrastructure. More information on the Government of Alberta's
infrastructure programs is available at www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca.
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Contacts:
Natalie SarafianPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities(613) 991-0700
Infrastructure CanadaCommunications and Promotion(613) 948-1148
Bart Johnson Director of Communications Alberta Infrastructure
and Transportation(780) 415-1841
Jay O'NeillDirector of CommunicationsAlberta Municipal
Affairs(780) 427-8862
BACKGROUNDER
Canada and Alberta Partner to Twin Highway
63
Two additional lanes will be constructed
along the existing two-lane Highway 63 from the Highway 55 junction near
Grassland, Alberta, to a point north of Mariana Lake -- a total length of
146 kilometres along the existing highway corridor. The roadway will be
upgraded to provincial expressway standards with safer intersections, a
wide median divider and paved shoulders to help accommodate oversize
loads.
The project is estimated to cost $320
million. The federal government will fund up to a total of $150 million
towards the eligible costs of the project, with the funds being sourced
from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund. The Province of Alberta
will provide the remaining funding of $170 million.
The Alberta government regards this project
as a top transportation priority. As part of a larger plan to twin the
240-kilometre stretch of Highway 63 from Fort McMurray south to Highway
55, at a total cost of $680 million, this project is expected to enhance
safety and contribute to the support of trade and economic development.
Planning work has already commenced on the
northern segment from Fort McMurray to north of Mariana Lake.
Contributions from the Canada Strategic
Infrastructure Fund have also been dedicated to the construction of ring
roads in the cities of Calgary and Edmonton. Funding in the amount of $75
million per project was committed to assist in the construction of these
roadways. In addition, $50 million was provided to the Parks Canada Agency
as part of the "national priorities" envelope of funding towards the
twinning of part of the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park.
