Kelowna, British Columbia, September 4, 2008 - Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Al Horning, MLA for Kelowna-Lake C Country, and Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd today announced $14.6 million in joint funding to support a highway improvement initiative along Highway 97 between Gordon Drive and Highway 33. Federal funding support for the upgrades to Highway 97 comes from t he Provincial-Territorial (PT) Base Fund, under the Building Canada plan.
"This investment in upgrades to Highway 97 builds on the commitment made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and our government to improve highway safety ac ross Canada," said MP Cannan. "Through our Building Canada plan these rural highways continue to be an integral part of the National Highway System, connecting remote communities with larger economic centres."
The h ighway improvement will involve creating six lanes along a 4 km stretch of Highway 97 from Gordon Drive to Highway 33. The Government of Canada and the province of British Columbia are jointly providing approximately $10.5 million, and the City of Kelowna is providing approximately $4.1 million. The work is expected to be completed by Fall 2009.
"Expanding these lanes will improve traffic congestion through this busy area," said MLA Horning. "This work will increase safety a nd reduce frustration for drivers, thanks to our government's participation in this collaborative highway improvement initiative."
"This investment will continue to enhance this vital transportation corridor in our city and help connect people to places by improving capacity, providing safer pedestrian connections and facilitating future transit expansion initiatives," said Mayor Shepherd.
This initiative is part of a series of announcements taking place i n BC. The Government of Canada and the Province of BC will fund up to $231 million worth of National Highway System improvements in the province, under the Building Canada plan.
Federal funding for these investments comes from the $3 3-billion Building Canada plan.
On November 6, 2007, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia signed an Infrastructure Framework Agreement under Building Canada worth $2.2 billion for infrastructure in itiatives from 2007 to 2014. On July 7, 2008, the two governments also launched a call for infrastructure initiatives 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
Min istry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250-387-7787
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
