No. H099/11
For release - October 12, 2011
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Construction officially started on the Highway 1 improvement project between Monte Creek and Bostock Road today. The milestone was marked in a ceremony attended by Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo and Kevin Krueger, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kamloops-South Thompson, who participated on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to invest in this important project that will benefit the communities along Highway 1," said MP McLeod. "Together with the Government of British Columbia, we are working to improve safety, reduce congestion and promote long-term economic growth in the region."
"Safety on B.C.'s highways is the highest priority of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure," said MLA Krueger. " Four-laning this section of the Trans-Canada Highway will add capacity and make it easier and safer to pass, which benefits everyone who uses the highway, from local residents to industry."
With expanding markets for B.C. goods, particularly in Asia, Highway 1 is an extremely important trade route. This work on Highway 1 will help ensure goods can get to market, while improving safety for those who live along the corridor.
The work will expand the Trans-Canada Highway from two lanes to four lanes between the Monte Creek Interchange to east of Bostock Road, a distance of three kilometres. A $7.2-million contract has been awarded to Emil Anderson Construction. Road construction will be complete by fall 2012. It is estimated that 250 direct jobs will be created over the life of the project.
This upgrade to Highway 1 between Monte Creek and Bostock Road is one phase of the $42.8-million Highway 1 Monte Creek to Pritchard project which is being jointly funded by British Columbia and Canada. The Government of Canada is contributing up to $16.7 million under the Building Canada Plan, with the province providing the remainder of the funding.
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Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Jeff Knight
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Province of British Columbia
250-356-7707
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
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