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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release Feb. 10, 2011 |
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
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BUSY HIGHWAY GETS MAJOR UPGRADE
GOLDEN – Work is set to begin on two major bridges on the Trans-Canada Highway near the Alberta border, making transporting goods between B.C. and the rest of Canada safer and more efficient, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond announced today.
A $40-million contract has been awarded to Flatiron Constructors Canada Ltd. The upgrades include replacing the existing two-lane Donald Bridge with a new four-lane bridge over the Columbia River, and building a new four-lane crossing over the Canadian Pacific Railway. The existing 50-year-old structures are nearing the end of their life expectancies.
Work will begin this week and finish in December 2012. Funding for the new bridges is being cost-shared between the provincial and federal governments. The project is located 26 km west of Golden on Highway 1.
Quotes:
“The Trans-Canada Highway is a major trade corridor between B.C. and the rest of Canada,” said Bond. “This summer, I met with the mayors of Golden and Revelstoke to discuss improving the safety, reliability and travel times on Highway 1. Replacing the Donald Bridge with a new four-lane structure is part of our commitment to improving safety on this important corridor.”
"As a community, we are very pleased to see the Province continuing to undertake significant highway upgrades in our area, including the Donald Bridge,” said Golden Mayor Christina Benty. “These projects enhance safety and dependability for local residents and travellers."
Quick Facts:
· The Donald Bridge carries an annual average of 4,800 vehicles a day, with an average of 15,000 vehicles a day on long weekends.
· Over 1,200 trucks - about one per minute – cross the bridge every day carrying goods between B.C. and Alberta.
· There are approximately 23,000 registered trucking companies in B.C., and goods move 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
· The project is expected to create over 250 direct jobs.
· Almost 400 highway and other transportation infrastructure projects took place across B.C. in 2010, which was the province’s busiest-ever construction season.
· Since 2001, the Province has invested $880 million in transportation and community infrastructure in the Kootenay region.
Learn More
· Photos of the existing Donald Bridge are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/sets/72157625978124428/
· Learn more about Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure projects planned or underway in B.C. at http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/highwayprojects/highwayprojects.htm
· Follow the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tranbc
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Contact:
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Jeff Knight Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 356-7707 |
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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.
