HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS BENEFIT KOOTENAY REGION

CRANBROOK – Residents of the East Kootenay region will benefit from joint federal and provincial funding to improve local highways and bridges, announced Kootenay-Columbia MP Jim Abbott, and East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett today.

These projects will improve travel and safety conditions and increase transportation efficiency.

“The projects are an important part of our local transportation infrastructure,” said Kootenay-Columbia MP Jim Abbott. “The timing of bringing this local employment to the Kootenays recognizes the challenges residents are experiencing as a consequence of the worldwide economic downturn.”

“This partnership between the federal and Provincial governments means that more than $29.5 million will be invested in our local highway infrastructure,” said East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett “The proposed projects are expected to create about 180 direct jobs and come at the time when the local economies need it most. I am glad to see our governments working together to support residents and build for the future.”

The projects in the East Kootenay region include:

· Building a two-km passing lane on Highway 3, west of Elko.

· Replacing the Loop Bridge with a new two-span structure over Michel Creek, realign 1.8 km of roadway, improving the Corbin road intersection and grade separation of the CPR crossing, east of Sparwood.

· Rehabilitation and upgrade of the Highway 95A through Kimberley. The City of Kimberley is contributing funding to this project.

The Government of British Columbia has identified these projects for funding consideration. Federal funding is conditional on the projects’ meeting all federal eligibility requirements.

These projects are part of an overall, three-year $14-billion capital infrastructure program (www.gov.bc.ca/infrastructure) supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

Beyond today’s announcement, the Government of Canada is taking important steps to support economic growth. Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced in Budget 2009, is a balanced stimulus plan that includes massive investments in infrastructure, tax relief and transfers. This plan will provide close to $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years, which will address needs in communities across Canada, as well as contributing to long-term economic growth through investments in public infrastructure, such as roads, water treatment, green energy and transit. This money is already at work in B.C. through federal support to the provincial Towns for Tomorrow and LocalMotion programs.

For more information, please visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.

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Media contact:	Jeff Knight Communications Manager Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 356-7707

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.