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VICTORIA – The proposal for a $600-million project to improve the safety, reliability and capacity of the Sea-to-Sky Highway has been granted an Environmental Assessment Certificate under the B.C. Environmental Assessment Act and has received federal signoff under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
The project includes two possible route options for the highway improvements through West Vancouver: a four-lane overland route; and a one-km long, two-lane, two-way tunnel.
The environmental assessment for the entire project included the review of project design issues, geochemical issues, impacts to wildlife, vegetation, fisheries and aquatics, water quality, as well as noise and community impacts.
The improvements to the Sea-to-Sky Highway will help reduce the approximately 300 accidents that take place every year. The improved highway will serve future population growth, economic development and increasing demand to move people and goods along the Sea-to-Sky corridor.
This project is expected to create 6,000 jobs with construction scheduled to begin this summer and completed by 2009.
Information on the Environmental Assessment Office’s project review is available online at www.eao.gov.bc.ca. -30-
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