Fort St. John, British Columbia, Thursday, March 28, 2013 – The governments of Canada and British Columbia announced a funding commitment today of $26 million to expand and upgrade Highway 97 at South Taylor Hill, just south of Taylor, between Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.
This project will widen Highway 97 at the base of South Taylor Hill to four lanes, south from Taylor Bridge for two kilometres. Improvements will be made to the intersections of Big Bam and Johnson Roads, and a larger truck chain-up area will be built to ensure truckers have a safe place to put on chains in the winter months. The slopes above the highway will also be contoured to enhance slope stability.
These improvements will make travel on Highway 97 at South Taylor Hill safer for residents and tourists and more efficient for industrial traffic serving the natural gas, forestry and agricultural sectors in the region.
"These improvements to the South Taylor Hill section of the Alaska Highway have been long-awaited and will greatly improve road safety for residents and travelers alike,"
said Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George—Peace River, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "Our government is proud to provide significant funding for this project as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada."
The Government of Canada is setting aside up to $10.75 million through the Building Canada Fund–Major Infrastructure Component for this project, with the Province of British Columbia providing $15.25 million, for a total project cost of $26 million.
Federal funding under the Major Infrastructure Component is conditional upon the completion of a review of the project, the completion of environmental assessments and the signing of a contribution agreement.
The project will go to tender in Fall 2013, with construction starting in Spring 2014 and scheduled for completion by Fall 2015. This work will build on the $800 million invested in highway improvements in the Peace Region since 2001.
"Everyone who lives in and travels through the Peace Region understands the importance of the Highway 97 corridor to our livelihoods,"
said Peace River South MLA Blair Lekstrom, on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Mary Polak. "Safety on B.C. highways is a priority, and this expansion and upgrade at South Taylor Hill will significantly increase safety for local traffic, for tourists and for commercial traffic supporting B.C.'s natural gas, forestry and agricultural sectors."
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a new Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 950,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. The new Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, supports Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada. To find out what the Government of Canada is doing to promote jobs, growth and prosperity, visit Canada's Economic Action Plan.
Learn more about transportation projects happening throughout B.C. at: Transportation Projects BC.
Connect with the Province of British Columbia at Government of British Columbia.
For more information, contact:
Geneviève Sicard
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
613-991-0700
Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250-356-8241
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
