No. H 028/07
For release February 19, 2007
SURREY -- Work has begun to complete the widening of the Highway 15 corridor,
from Surrey, British Columbia to the United States border, the Honourable
Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and
British Columbia Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, announced today.
"Canada's New Government is delivering on better links between border
crossings, ports, container facilities, industrial parks, airports and railways
to improve safety for all road users," said Minister Cannon. "Improved links
will also reduce freight costs, and enhance the economies of Canada, British
Columbia and the Greater Vancouver region."
"This $15.4-million project is the latest component of the joint
federal-provincial program to improve the movement of goods and people to and
from the Lower Mainland's border crossings," said Minister Falcon. "We are
committed to working with the federal government to open up our transportation
gateways and improve the movement of goods and people."
This project will see the widening of Highway 15 in Surrey from 32nd Avenue
to the Roger Pierlet Overhead, and from 68A Avenue to 92nd Avenue. Work includes
grade construction, soil preparation, asphalt removal, paving and electrical
installations.
"I am pleased that this work is moving forward," said Dave S. Hayer, MLA for
Surrey-Tynehead. "Having a continuous four-lane highway from the Trans-Canada
Highway to the Pacific Highway border crossing will greatly improve access for
commercial transports to and from the United States. This project will ease
congestion and save travel time for commercial truckers."
Imperial Paving Ltd. of Burnaby has begun work on the project, with October
2008 as the scheduled completion date. The contractor plans to use staged
construction to minimize delays during peak traffic periods.
The Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia are
cost-sharing this latest project, with most of the work being funded through the
Border Infrastructure Fund. Supplemental funding is provided through the
federal-provincial Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program border crossing
component.
For more information, visit the Government of British Columbia's website at
www.gov.bc.ca and Transport Canada's website
at www.tc.gc.c.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Amanda Stringer
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Mike Long
Director - Ministry of Transportation
Public Affairs
250-387-7787 / 213-3402
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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