PITT RIVER BRIDGE PROJECT MARKS MILESTONE

PITT MEADOWS – The Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange Project marked a milestone today as it reached the two-thirds completion mark, announced Premier Gordon Campbell, the Honourable James Moore, federal Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway), (2010 Olympics), (Official Languages), and British Columbia’sTransportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon.

“The Pitt River Bridge Crossing is a significant gateway for British Columbia, and it’s particularly important to the people of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and surrounding communities,” said Premier Campbell. “Traffic over the Pitt River Bridge has almost tripled since 1985 and with the new Golden Ears Bridge opening, more growth will follow. This new bridge and interchange will significantly improve safety and reliability along this rapidly growing transportation corridor by allowing traffic to flow more smoothly.”

“The Pitt River crossing connects key economic and transportation facilities with the Greater Vancouver area,” said Secretary of State Moore. “This investment demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to facilitating Canada’s trade with the Asia-Pacific region while minimizing its impact on the communities through which it must move.”

The Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange Project includes a new seven-lane bridge that will replace the existing swing bridges, as well as an interchange to replace the current Lougheed Highway and Mary Hill Bypass intersection. The design incorporates more than $8.5 million in pedestrian and cycling features, including bicycle lanes across the new bridge. The design also allows for one lane to be added in the future. The additional lane could meet future demand for vehicle use or Light Rail Rapid Transit, and could be used for high-occupancy vehicles (HOV) and RapidBus in the interim.

The existing intersection at Lougheed Highway and Mary Hill Bypass will be replaced with a grade-separated interchange with on- and off-ramps that would allow for free-flow of traffic. In combination with the new bridge, these improvements will eliminate the current counterflow system.

“Hitting this milestone shows us just how far we’ve come on this important project,” said Minister Falcon. “Construction is on schedule and on budget, and we can see the excellent results, including pile driving, deck panel placement and cable installation. When the new bridge opens in 2009, it will not only boost safety and ease traffic congestion, it will also have positive economic and environmental benefits for the entire region.”

On Feb. 9, 2007, the provincial and federal governments announced a cost-sharing agreement for the $198-million project. The Province of British Columbia is providing $108 million, and the Government of Canada is providing up to $90-million through the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative.

The Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange Project received Environmental Certification in July 2006. The new bridge is slated to open in late 2009. A comprehensive traffic management plan is in place to ensure construction proceeds with minimal traffic disruptions.

On Oct. 11, 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, a $1-billion federal initiative. In two years, the Government of Canada has partnered with British Columbia and other western provinces, municipalities and the private sector to announce strategic infrastructure projects worth nearly $2.5 billion, including federal contributions of over $900 million.

The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative brings together infrastructure, policy, governance and operational issues in an integrated, multimodal, public-private strategy to strengthen Canada’s competitive performance in international commerce with the Asia-Pacific region.

Given its strategic location linking the CP Intermodal Terminal and Lower Mainland ports, the Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange Project is a critical component of the Gateway Program. The Province’s $3-billion Gateway Program will improve roads and bridges for people, goods and transit throughout Metro Vancouver. The Gateway Program is divided into three projects: Port Mann/ Highway 1; South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR), and Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange Project.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.

Media

contact:

Bridgitte Anderson

Press Secretary

Office of the Premier

604 307-7177

Dave Crebo

Communications Director

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

250 387-7787

Deirdre McCracken

Director of Communications

Office of the Honourable James Moore

819 956-4074

Media Relations

Transport Canada, Ottawa

613 993-0055

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