NEWS RELEASE COMMUNIQUÉ For Immediate Release 2010TRAN0054-000960 Aug. 19, 2010 Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Government of Canada 21 NEW PROJECTS TO CREATE HUNDREDS OF NEW JOBS IN B.C. WEST VANCOUVER Twenty-one additional infrastructure projects will get underway in B.C. this construction season thanks to over $42 million in funding from Canada and the Province, announced Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway on behalf of Canada s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Chuck Strahl, and B.C. Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations Naomi Yamamoto. The Government of Canada is committed to creating jobs, strengthening our economy, and ensuring the safety and well-being of Canadians, said Minister Day. We are pleased to partner with British Columbia on these highway improvement projects, which will lead to safer roads for residents and visitors across the province. Our government continues to work with our federal partners to invest in important infrastructure that will create hundreds of new jobs in every region of the province, said Minister Yamamoto. These additional projects have been made possible due to our competitive bid process, which ensures we get the best value for British Columbians tax dollars. The funding for these 21 projects is available as the result of savings achieved through competitive bids on previously announced provincial Infrastructure Stimulus Fund highway projects. It is estimated these new projects will create more than 270 direct jobs. Of the $42 million invested, $38 million is eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund split equally between Canada and B.C. Of the 21 projects announced today, 18 are improvements to highway and road infrastructure throughout the province. The remaining three projects are improvements to BC Ferries facilities in Campbell River, Langdale and Horseshoe Bay. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2011. The federal contribution to these projects comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal constructionready infrastructure projects. Since March 2009, over 400 projects have received a total federal investment of over $500 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across British Columbia.
- 2 - Since October 2008, over $5.3 billion has been committed for accelerated capital projects across British Columbia, which is estimated to generate more than 34,000 construction jobs over the life of the projects. For more information on Canada s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca. The website www.creatingjobs.gc.ca has more information on federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia. A backgrounder follows. -30- Media Contacts: John Babcock Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities 613 991-0700 Jeff Knight Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 356-7707
- 3 - BACKGROUNDER For Immediate Release 2010TRAN0054-000960 Aug. 19, 2010 Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Government of Canada 21 NEW PROJECTS EQUAL HUNDREDS OF JOBS Highway 1 Abbotsford: 264th Avenue to Vedder Canal - asphalt resurfacing Federal funding: $900,000 Provincial funding: $1.1 million Highway 1 Cassidy: Nanaimo River Road to Spitfire Road - asphalt resurfacing Federal funding: $675,000 Provincial funding: $825,000 Total funding: $1.5 million Highway 1 Chilliwack: Lickman Road to Young Road - median cable barrier Highway 1 West Vancouver: Eagle Ridge underpass - deck resurfacing Federal funding: $157,500 Provincial funding: $192,500 Total funding: $350,000 Highway 1 West Vancouver: Horseshoe Bay underpass - deck resurfacing Highway 1 West Vancouver: Squamish underpass - deck resurfacing Federal funding: $275,000 Provincial funding: $335,000 Total funding: $610,000 Highway 1 Cassidy: Spruston Road to Beck Road - median divider and Beck Road intersection improvements Federal funding: $405,000 Provincial funding: $495,000 Total funding: $900,000
- 4 - Highway 3 Fernie: Elko overhead to Fernie Ski Hill Road - resurfacing Federal funding: $2.48 million Provincial funding: $3 million Total funding: $5.5 million Highway 7 Mission: Chester Road to Nelson Road - asphalt resurfacing Federal funding: $225,000 Provincial funding: $275,000 Total funding: $500,000 Highway 28 Gold River: Western Mine Road to Argonaut Road - asphalt resurfacing Highway 97 Summerland/Osoyoos: Lakeshore Drive to Bentley Road in Summerland and from U.S. border to Highway 3 south of Osoyoos - resurfacing Federal funding: $1.35 million Provincial funding: $1.65 million Total funding: $3 million Highway 97A Enderby: east of Enderby to Springbend Road - resurfacing Federal funding: $850,000 Provincial funding: $1.2 million Highway 99 Delta/Surrey: Highway 17 underpass to Nikomekl River - resurfacing Federal funding: $1.35 million Provincial funding: $1.65 million Total funding: $3 million Highway 99 Lillooet: Fountain Slide slope - stabilization and drainage Federal funding: $1.1 million Provincial funding: $1.4 million Total funding: $2.5 million Highway 99 Whistler: Function Junction to Lorimer Road - asphalt resurfacing/barrier improvement Federal funding: $1.7 million Provincial funding: $2.3 million Total funding: $4 million Francois Lake Road, Fraser Lake: Fraser Lake Road to Birch Bay Road - graded aggregate reseal Federal funding: $675,000 Provincial funding: $825,000 Total funding: $1.5 million
- 5 - North Peace Side Road Improvements: Phase II improvements in the Fort St. John area Federal funding: $2.25 million Provincial funding: $2.75 million Total funding: $5 million Fort George Side Road Improvements: repairs on Upper Fraser Road and resealing of subdivision roads in North Kelly, Reid Lake, Ness Lake and Buckhorn and Pineview Areas. Federal funding: $900,000 Provincial funding: $1.1 million BC Ferries: Campbell River Terminal - foot passenger walkway Federal funding: $150,000 Provincial funding: $150,000 Total funding: $300,000 BC Ferries: Langdale Ferry Terminal - wastewater treatment facility Federal funding: $1.8 million Provincial funding: $1.8 million Total funding: $3.6 million BC Ferries: Horseshoe Bay Terminal - overhead walkway Federal funding: $650,000 Provincial funding: $650,000 Total funding: $1.3 million -30- Media Contacts: John Babcock Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities 613 991-0700 Jeff Knight Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 356-7707 For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province s website at www.gov.bc.ca.