Canada - British Columbia investments to Kicking Horse Canyon and improve highway access to border crossings

• Backgrounder

Vancouver, British Columbia, March 5, 2003 - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell today announced their governments' commitment of $336 million to upgrade a portion of the Trans-Canada Highway in Kicking Horse Pass and to improve trade corridors linking to the province's border crossings.

"I am particularly pleased that these projects will help reduce bottlenecks at the Douglas/Blaine and Huntingdon/Sumas border crossing, which are two of Canada's major border crossings, while making them safer than ever," said Prime Minister Chrétien. "This partnership with the Government of British Columbia will have a tremendous impact on trade throughout Western Canada and boost the region's economy."

"These investments in the gateways to our province reflect our throne speech commitments to invest in transportation improvements that will help revitalize our economy by opening up B.C. to new opportunities," said Campbell. "In particular, we're taking an important step toward meeting our number one infrastructure priority of improving the Trans-Canada Highway through the Kicking Horse Canyon."

Prime Minister Chrétien and Premier Campbell announced that their governments' would provide an additional $125 million to replace the 10-Mile (Park) Bridge and construct over 5km of new four-lane highway in Kicking Horse Pass on the Trans-Canada Highway, east of Golden, British Columbia.

This follows a $60 million contribution announced in July 2002 from the Government of Canada and the provincial government for the twinning of the 5-Mile (Yoho) Bridge, also located in the Kicking Horse Canyon, as well as an over $8 million contribution for the Victoria Road intersection in Revelstoke, and almost $12 million to replace the Woods overhead structure and upgrade 1.5km of highway west of Revelstoke, for a total contribution to date of almost $206 million for improvements to Highway 1 corridor through the Rocky Mountains. The Government of Canada's contributions are made through the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program.

This investment demonstrates the governments' commitment to the Trans-Canada Highway through the Kicking Horse Canyon. Prime Minister Chrétien and Premier Campbell stated their governments' support to complete these improvements over the next several years.

In addition, a total of $211 million will be invested for eight highway accesses leading to border crossings. The Government of Canada will provide $90 million from the Border Infrastructure Fund; the Government of British Columbia will provide $121 million.

The projects announced today will provide for major infrastructure improvements on Highways 10, 11,15, 91, 91A, and Knight Street. The Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink) will also contribute $9 million towards the Knight Street project.

Through the $2-billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada is working with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to respond to strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. These investments are directed to large-scale projects of major national and regional significance, in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians. Last December, the Government of Canada announced a contribution of over $200 million through the Fund towards the $495 million expansion of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The $600-million Border Infrastructure Fund has been designed to support the initiatives in the Smart Border Action Plan by reducing border congestion, improving the flow of goods and services and expanding infrastructure capacity over the medium term.

In the Speech from the Throne of September 30, 2002, the Government of Canada committed to an additional 10-year involvement in public infrastructure. The Federal Budget 2003 reaffirmed this long-term commitment and provided an additional $3 billion in infrastructure support, including $1 billion for municipal infrastructure. In combination with the $5.25 billion in infrastructure programs announced in Budget 2000 and 2001, this brings the federal government's recent investment in the nation's infrastructure to over $8 billion.

Similarly, in its Budget 2003 on February 18, the Government of British Columbia committed a total of $650 million in additional transportation improvements over the next three years, including these projects and investments in Heartlands roads.

For further information contact:

PMO Press Office
(613) 957-5555

Michael Morton
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier of British Columbia
(250) 213-8218

Top of Page

Backgrounder

$211 million Canada-BC investment at BC lower Mainland crossings

The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia will provide $211 million to improve access leading to the Lower Mainland border crossings. The Government of Canada, through the Border Infrastructure Fund will contribute $90 million while the Province of British Columbia will provide $121 million. The projects that will receive funding are as follows:

• on Highway 15, $80 million to upgrade the segment between 32nd Avenue and 88th Avenue to four lanes. The project involves numerous intersection improvements, a bridge widening and railway overpass structure. Highway 15 is the principal north-south connecting roadway from the Trans-Canada and Fraser Highways to the Douglas, British Columbia / Blaine, Washington crossing.
• on Highways 91A and 91:
  • $33 million to upgrade the Highway 91A/Queensborough Bridge North interchange;
  • $25 million to construct a new interchange at Highway 91A and Howes Street; and
  • $10 million to construct a new interchange at Highway 91 and 72nd Avenue.

Highways 91 and 91A are the major north-south urban freeways connecting Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey to the US border, via Highways 10 and 99.

• on Highway 10, $42 million to upgrade the segment between 122nd Street and 172nd Street to a four-lane divided highway. This includes major intersection improvements and a bridge replacement. Highway 10 is the major southern east-west connecting link between Highways 91, 99A and 15. Combined, the investments to Highway 10 and Highway 15 will significantly reduce travel time to the Douglas, British Columbia / Blaine, Washington crossing.
• on Highway 11:
  • $5 million to upgrade the intersection at the Trans-Canada Highway; and
  • $2 million to upgrade the intersection at Vye Road.

Highway 11 is the principal highway leading to the Huntingdon / Sumas Border Crossing.

• on Knight Street: $11 million to construct left turn bays for all approaches at 6th Avenue, 33rd Avenue, 49th Avenue and 57th Avenue. Knight Street is the most heavily used truck route in Vancouver and is a key regional connection between Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, Surrey and the United States. The Government of Canada is contributing $2 million to this project and the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority is contributing $9 million.

A contingency reserve of $12 million has been put aside for these projects, as a number of them are in the preliminary stage. As such, estimated costs are subject to change when the final designs are completed. The contingency reserve will be used only if project costs are greater than preliminary estimates. It is customary for any type of construction project to include a provision for contingencies. Funds left in the contingency reserve at the end of the Program may be allocated to other priority border projects.