No. H 198/08
For release - August 30, 2008
ARMSTRONG, BRITISH COLUMBIA - The governments of Canada and British Columbia are pleased to announce $33.7 million in funding for a highway project in Vernon, British Columbia under the Building Canada infrastructure plan.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to partner with the Province of British Columbia and invest in these highway upgrades under Building Canada," said the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "This project reflects the federal government's commitment to developing world-class infrastructure for Canadians, increasing transportation safety, reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and fostering a stronger national economy."
This project involves widening from 2 to 4 lanes, the section of Highway 97A north of Vernon, between Larkin Road and Crozier Road, construction of an interchange with roundabout at the ramp terminals, and the addition of a local road to connect to the existing highway and the new interchange.
The total cost of this project is $33.7 million; up to approximately $12.13 million is being provided from Building Canada, and approximately $21.57 million is being provided from the Province of British Columbia. The project is expected to be completed by Fall 2010.
"The Government of Canada is committed to improving transportation safety. Highway 97 has long been identified as a priority for upgrades, and this investment, along with others we are making along Highway 97 in the Okanagan Valley, will significantly improve the safety of this important transportation route," said Colin Mayes, MP for Okanagan-Shuswap. "As part of Building Canada, we are investing in infrastructure priorities to increase community safety, help grow our economy, and protect our environment."
"This priority project reflects our government's commitment to infrastructure investments made in partnership with British Columbia," said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "This investment positions the government as a leader in expanding existing infrastructure capacity, reducing congestion, cutting commute times, enhancing the safety of Canada's transportation system and improving the flow of people and goods across the country."
"The addition of two new lanes to this section of Highway 97A will reduce delays and improve travel time through this busy area," said Shuswap MLA and Minister of Health Services George Abbott. "Having new roundabouts will eliminate direct access off the highway, improving the safety of drivers travelling along this route. It is through collaborative infrastructure projects like these that we can continue to meet the needs of both residents and travellers through the area."
Federal funding for this project comes from the Building Canada Fund under the $33-billion Building Canada plan. Through this unprecedented plan, the federal government will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country. On November 6, 2007, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia signed an Infrastructure Framework Agreement under Building Canada worth over $2.7 billion for infrastructure projects from 2007 to 2014.
Federal financial support for this project is conditional on the initiative meeting all applicable federal eligibility requirements, including the completion of a full federal due diligence review of the project, and signature of necessary contribution agreements for the project.
For more information on the Building Canada plan, please visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.
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Contacts:
Catherine Loubier
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Dave Crebo
Communications Director
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250-387-7787
Office of Colin Mayes,
MP, Okanagan-Shuswap
250-260-5020
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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