B.C. and the Feds announce $469 million in highway improvement funding
February 21, 2017
By
CCE
Highway 1 through Kicking Horse Canyon will be realigned and expanded to four lanes with median barriers and widened shoulders.
Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi, speaking in Kamloops. (source: BC Government)
Speaking in Kamloops, Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and B.C. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone, have announced $469.4 million in funding to expand and upgrade two major sections of the TransCanada Highway.
Out of this amount, the Kicking Horse Canyon project accounts for nearly $450 million, while the Donald to Forde Station section of highway accounts for over $19.4 million.
Highway 1 through Kicking Horse Canyon will be realigned and expanded to four lanes with median barriers and widened shoulders. Improving this section will also require a combination of bridges, retaining walls, rock catchment ditches and other measures to reduce rock fall hazards.
Work on the second section of Highway 1 approximately 20 kilometres west of Golden, from Donald to Forde Station Road, will involve expanding the highway to four lanes and improving access at the weigh scale.
“This major transportation infrastructure project in British Columbia will benefit residents, businesses, and tourists, while fostering long-term prosperity across the region. We will continue working in close collaboration with British Columbia to ensure we make smart infrastructure investments that help build the Canada of tomorrow,” said Sohi, in a release.
For work through Kicking Horse Canyon, the Government of Canada will provide up to $215,198,500 through the New Building Canada Fund–National Infrastructure Component. The Government of British Columbia will match the federal contribution and provide $19,603,000 to cover additional related project expenses.
For the work on Donald to Forde Station, the Government of Canada will provide up to $7,270,000, through the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component–National and Regional Projects. The Government of British Columbia will match the federal contribution and provide $4,860,000 to cover additional related project expenses.
The total project costs are estimated at over $469 million, for which the Government of British Columbia is providing up to $247 million, and the Government of Canada is providing up to $222 million.
