Quesnel, British Columbia, September 4, 2008 - Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, along with Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transpo ortation and Infrastructure, today announced $21.5 million in joint funding to support highway improvement initiatives along Highway 97 between Dale Lake Road and Dragon Lake Road and at the Hixon Bridge in British Columbia. Federal funding support for th e upgrades to Highway 97 comes from the Provincial-Territorial (PT) Base Fund, under the Building Canada plan.
"Improving safety and efficiency along the Highway 97 corridor is a top priority for our government," said Fal con. "The upgrades along this section are part of our $200 million commitment to widen the Cariboo Connector."
"This investment in upgrades to Highway 97 and to the Hixon Bridge builds on the commitments of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and our government to improve highway safety across Canada," said MP Harris. "Through our Building Canada plan these rural highways continue to be an integral part of the National Highway System, connecting remote communi ties with larger economic centres."
The highway improvements will involve creating four lanes along a 3.2-km stretch of Highway 97 from Dale Lake Road to Dragon Lake Road as well as replacing the existing Hixon Bridge with a new four-la ne structure. Both initiatives are expected to be completed by Fall 2009.
These initiatives are part of a series of announcements taking place in BC. The Government of Canada and the Province of BC will fund up to $231 million worth of Nation al Highway System improvements in the province, under the Building Canada plan.
Federal funding for these investments comes from the $33 billion Building Canada plan. On November 6, 2007, the Government of Canada and the Prov ince of British Columbia signed an Infrastructure Framework Agreement under Building Canada worth $2.2 billion for infrastructure initiatives from 2007 to 2014. On July 7, 2008, the two governments also launched a call for infrastructure initiati ves in smaller communities to be funded under this larger plan.
Catherine Loubier
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Dave Crebo
Communications Director
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250-387-7787
Infrastructure Canada
61 3-948-1148
