NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2010TRAN0028-000645 May 28, 2010

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

 

HIGHWAY 3A PASSING LANE TO IMPROVE MOTORIST SAFETY

 

NELSON – Construction on a new Highway 3A westbound passing lane continues to move forward under a plan to improve mobility and reduce collisions along this section of the corridor, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond announced today.

 

            “This project will make a heavily travelled east-west section of the highway much safer for commuters and motorists in outlying communities,” said Bond. “It is a high-priority construction project that will hire local equipment and create local jobs.”

 

             LNB Construction Inc has been awarded a $1.3-million contract for drilling and blasting and is set to begin immediately on a 1.9 km stretch of Highway 3A between Nelson and Castlegar. The passing lane will start 700 metres west of the Highway 3A and Granite Road intersection in Nelson and end 600 metres east of Grohman Park.

 

            During the drilling and blasting, drivers can expect road closures from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Traffic delays are expected to be no longer than 40 minutes. The work is expected to be complete by June 30. Road grade construction and paving will follow, with completion of the overall project by fall 2010.

 

            “We look forward to the start of this project and the stimulation of our economy as the construction creates much needed employment in our area over this coming spring and summer,” said Nelson Mayor John Dooley.

 

This project is part of the $38 million that will be invested this year to improve Highways 3 and 3A to move people and goods more safely and efficiently. Since 2001, the Province has invested approximately $155 million on 70 Highway 3/3A/3B projects. This year’s funding brings the total investment to nearly $200 million.

 

The federal contribution to this project comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects.

 

Since March 2009, almost 400 projects have received a total federal investment of over $500 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across British Columbia.

 

Since October 2008, over $5.3 billion has been committed for accelerated capital projects across British Columbia, which is estimated to generate more than 34,000 construction jobs over the life of the projects.

 

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Media Contacts:

Jeff Knight Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 356-7707   James Kusie Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities 613 991-0700

 

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