No. GC005/11
For release - November 10, 2011
SALMON ARM — Work to upgrade almost 5 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway near Sorrento is complete, improving the safety and capacity of this important stretch of Highway 1.
The announcement was made by Member of Parliament Colin Mayes (Okanagan-Shuswap) and Shuswap MLA George Abbott on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom.
"Completion of construction on this project along the Trans-Canada Highway means that the highway is safer for Canadians," said MP Mayes. "Reliable roadways are important to trade and the movement of goods across the entire country, and internationally through the Asia-Pacific Gateway."
"Projects like this are a key component of the B.C. Jobs Plan," said MLA Abbott. "They not only create jobs during the construction of the project, but also at completion by allowing goods to move more rapidly to market, both in North America and overseas."
The Trans-Canada Highway was upgraded from a two- and three-lane configuration to a four-lane, 100 km/h highway between Hilltop Road and Balmoral Road at Blind Bay.
Intersections, local accesses and over a kilometre of side roads along the corridor were also improved to benefit local residents, visitors to the area and motorists travelling Highway 1 between Salmon Arm and Sorrento. Four lanes and improved intersections will help with traffic flow and will make it easier for large recreational and commercial vehicles to turn.
The Province of British Columbia contributed just over $14 million to the $21.5-million project. The Government of Canada contributed $7.22 million under the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative. Almost 120 direct jobs were created over the life of the project.
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 on or along the corridor. Work is also continuing on major improvements to Highway 1 east of Kamloops and in the Kicking Horse Canyon near Golden.
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Contacts:
Adam Taylor
Director of Communications and Tours
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
Ottawa
613-992-7332
Media Relations
Transport Canada
Ottawa
613-993-0055
Jeff Knight
Government Communications and Public Engagement
B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250-356-7707
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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