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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release October 1, 2009 |
Ministry of Forests and Range
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UPDATE ON $20 MILLION FUNDING FOR RURAL ROADS
VICTORIA – British Columbia is on track to complete $20 million in targeted upgrades to more than 200 Forest Service roads that serve as crucial transportation links, improving travel and safety conditions for residents in about 70 rural communities, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.
“For many rural communities, Forest Service roads are a vital part of the local road network,” said Bell. “We’ve already spent $14 million since we started work this spring and we’re well on our way to meet our $20 million commitment by the end of the fiscal year. In partnership with the Government of Canada, we’re going to see further travel and safety improvements over the next couple of years.”
Over the past year, both the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada injected new funding to stimulate economic development and improve travel conditions on Forest Service roads that serve as crucial transportation links to rural communities and recreation sites.
First announced by Premier Campbell at the 2008 Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, the Ministry of Forests and Range is providing $20 million over two years. In April, the federal government, as part of the Canada Economic Action Plan, committed $10 million for Forest Service Road capital projects. This incremental $30 million in targeted funding is in addition to the Ministry of Forests and Range’s $20 million annual capital and operating budget for Forest Service roads.
Work began this past spring and will continue through the 2011 construction season. Works includes bridge repairs and replacements, ditching and culvert repairs, clearing brush to improve sight lines, removing loose rock from slope faces, new road safety signage, and road widening, grading and resurfacing.
“Communities have told us they value the economic and social opportunities that come from having a stronger road network,” said Bill Bennett, Minister of Community and Rural Development. “Whether it’s accessing health care, exploring new mineral opportunities, or opening new regions to tourism, the benefits of this investment will strengthen the province as a whole.”
British Columbia’s 55,000-kilometre network of Forest Service roads is bigger than the provincial highway system. Road maintenance funding is used to improve safety on Forest Service roads, which includes the establishment of radio protocols, speed enforcement through expanded use of radar guns, and the expansion of the Vehicle Identification Plates Program.
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Contact:
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Cheekwan Ho Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-8482 |
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.
BACKGROUNDER
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October 1, 2009 Ministry of Forests and Range
Around the province, road improvement
projects are underway or completed under the $20-million fund announced by the
Premier at the 2008 UBCM convention. The funding provides for maintenance and
improvements such as bridge repairs or replacements, ditching and culvert
repairs, clearing brush to improve sight lines, removing loose rock from slope
faces, new road safety signage, and road widening, grading and resurfacing. The
type of work varies from project to project, depending on the condition of the
road and local use.
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COMMUNITIES INCLUDE |
DETAILS INCLUDE |
FUNDING AMOUNT |
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Port McNeill Winter Harbour Mitchell Bay |
13 km – includes replacement of a failing wood bridge. |
$550,000 |
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Duncan Ucluelet Port Alberni Port Renfrew |
27 km – access to rural residences, recreation sites, access to Macoah First Nation community, the Juan de Fuca Marine Provincial Park. |
$315,200 |
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Zeballos Fair Harbour |
43 km – access to remote villages, recreation sites, and assessments to rebuild a causeway. |
$640,000 |
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Haida Gwaii |
11 km – access to the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. |
$200,000 |
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Texada Island Sechelt Peninsula |
47 km – access to recreation areas, the Gray Creek community watershed, and residences. |
$400,000 |
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Powell River |
8 km – access to residences and drainage improvements to protect water safety. |
$300,000 |
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Boston Bar Hope Harrison Hot Springs |
64 km – access to recreation sites and residences. |
$523,000 |
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Mission Sumas Harrison Mills |
15 km – access to trails and recreation sites, access to mountain bike trails, residences |
$328,000 |
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Seymour Arm |
42 km – access to communities and remote recreational sites. |
$1,500,000 |
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Peachland Summerland |
23 km – access to recreation sites and trails, replacing a bridge deck, maintaining an alternate route to Highway 97. |
$375,000
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Pemberton Lillooet Skatin, Samahquam, Port Douglas, Tipella First Nations Lillooet Lake Estates Goldbridge Bralorne Birkenlake Estates |
250 km – access to residences and recreational opportunities. |
$518,200 |
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Kamloops Merritt Clearwater |
750 km – access to residences, the Nicomen Indian Band, various recreation sites, alternate access to Sun Peaks ski resort. |
$665,300 |
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Kamloops Barriere |
42 km – access to residences, First Nations communities, remote recreational sites. |
$1,500,000 |
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Clearwater |
39 km – improvements to the road, bridge, and bridge railings. |
$110,000 |
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Grand Forks Castlegar/Slocan Duncan Lake New Denver Deer Park |
90 km – access to rural residences and popular recreation sites. |
$573,300 |
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Canal Flats Cranbrook Kootenay Lake Kimberley Spillimacheen Radium Hot Springs |
356 km – access to communities and recreation sites. |
$270,300 |
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Elkford |
65 km – access to recreation sites and trails. |
$400,000 |
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Wells Likely Williams Lake Hanceville |
558 km – access to residences, recreation sites such as Ghost Lake, First Nations communities. |
$1,500,000 |
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100 Mile House |
85 km – access to rural residences, various recreation sites. |
$55,400
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Quesnel |
215 km – access to rural residences, various recreation sites, access between Wells and Likely. |
$112,500 |
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Tumbler Ridge Chetwynd |
5 km – engineering studies for a road layout and design for potential re-alignment. |
$30,000
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Prince George Pilot Mountain |
74 km – access to Kakwa Provincial Park, replacement of bridge deck material. |
$700,000 |
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Fort St. James |
38 km – access to First Nations communities, public recreational sites. |
$1,560,000 |
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Mackenzie |
14 km – on part of the road connecting Mackenzie to Fort St. James. |
$805,000 |
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Moricetown Terrace Smithers Hazelton Kitwanga |
440 km – access to residences and recreational users, complete road survey, gravel pit development. |
$3,200,000 |
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Various communities |
Smaller projects on Forest Service Roads across the Province |
$2,868,800 |
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Contact:
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Cheekwan Ho Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-8482 |
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