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PRINCE GEORGE – The Ministry of Transportation is investing $30 million a year in new
money for the next three years for the rehabilitation of Interior roads
affected by the increasing number of logging trucks carrying pine beetle kill
wood, Minister Kevin Falcon announced today.
“We
are committed to ensuring the safety and upkeep of our Interior roads,” said
Falcon. “That’s why we are spending more than ever on our capital and
operational budgets to ensure that our highways can stand up to the increased
loads and provide a safe, reliable surface for the travelling public into the
future.”
With
increased logging, it’s estimated that about 345,000 more loads of logs will be
transported on the provincial road network – the equivalent of more than one
billion passenger vehicle trips. The
increased heavy truck traffic means portions of the highway road
structure will require resurfacing much sooner than originally planned.
“A key part of our Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan
is to recover as much economic value as possible from beetle-attacked forests,”
said Prince George-Mount Robson MLA and
Deputy Premier Shirley Bond. “The
local economy is benefiting from the increased activity in new mills being
constructed, a more diverse industry, and hundreds of new jobs and long-term
investment for B.C.’s Interior.”
“We
recognize that the impact on our roads is a consequence of increasing the
cutting of pine beetle timber,” said
Prince George North MLA and Agriculture and Lands Minister Pat Bell. “That’s
why we believe it’s important to take steps and commit funds to ensure that the
impact of the pine beetle epidemic does not affect the safety of our roads.”
“We have lobbied hard to let the ministry
know about local residents’ concerns regarding the effects the increased
traffic is having on our roads,” said Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad.
“This investment demonstrates this government’s ongoing commitment to the
transportation needs of the Interior.”
The increase
in highway network rehabilitation funding demonstrates the Ministry of
Transportation’s support of the B.C. Mountain
Pine Beetle Action Plan.
Ongoing
consultation with the Ministry of Forests and Range and the forest industry
will establish annual requirements and identify projected long term cut areas
so road works can be initiated ahead of the timber harvest.
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Communications Director 250 213-3402 |
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