News Release

March 5, 2003

CANADA - BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENTS TO KICKING HORSE CANYON AND IMPROVE HIGHWAY ACCESS TO BORDER CROSSINGS

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell today announced their governments' commitment of $336 million to upgrade a portion of the Trans-Canada Highway in Kicking Horse Pass and to improve trade corridors linking to the province's border crossings.

"I am particularly pleased that these projects will help reduce bottlenecks at the Douglas/Blaine and Huntingdon/Sumas border crossing, which are two of Canada's major border crossings, while making them safer than ever," said Prime Minister Chrétien. "This partnership with the Government of British Columbia will have a tremendous impact on trade throughout Western Canada and boost the region's economy."

"These investments in the gateways to our province reflect our throne speech commitments to invest in transportation improvements that will help revitalize our economy by opening up B.C. to new opportunities," said Campbell. "In particular, we're taking an important step toward meeting our number one infrastructure priority of improving the Trans-Canada Highway through the Kicking Horse Canyon."

Prime Minister Chrétien and Premier Campbell announced that their governments' would provide an additional $125 million to replace the 10-Mile (Park) Bridge and construct over 5km of new four-lane highway in Kicking Horse Pass on the Trans-Canada Highway, east of Golden, British Columbia.

This follows a $60 million contribution announced in July 2002 from the Government of Canada and the provincial government for the twinning of the 5-Mile (Yoho) Bridge, also located in the Kicking Horse Canyon, as well as an over $8 million contribution for the Victoria Road intersection in Revelstoke, and almost $12 million to replace the Woods overhead structure and upgrade 1.5km of highway west of Revelstoke, for a total contribution to date of almost $206 million for improvements to Highway 1 corridor through the Rocky Mountains. The Government of Canada's contributions are made through the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program.

This investment demonstrates the governments' commitment to the Trans-Canada Highway through the Kicking Horse Canyon. Prime Minister Chrétien and Premier Campbell stated their governments' support to complete these improvements over the next several years.

In addition, a total of $211 million will be invested for eight highway accesses leading to border crossings. The Government of Canada will provide $90 million from the Border Infrastructure Fund; the Government of British Columbia will provide $121 million.

The projects announced today will provide for major infrastructure improvements on Highways 10, 11,15, 91, 91A, and Knight Street. The Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink) will also contribute $9 million towards the Knight Street project.

Through the $2-billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada is working with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to respond to strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. These investments are directed to large-scale projects of major national and regional significance, in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians. Last December, the Government of Canada announced a contribution of over $200 million through the Fund towards the $495 million expansion of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The $600-million Border Infrastructure Fund has been designed to support the initiatives in the Smart Border Action Plan by reducing border congestion, improving the flow of goods and services and expanding infrastructure capacity over the medium term.

In the Speech from the Throne of September 30, 2002, the Government of Canada committed to an additional 10-year involvement in public infrastructure. The Federal Budget 2003 reaffirmed this long-term commitment and provided an additional $3 billion in infrastructure support, including $1 billion for municipal infrastructure. In combination with the $5.25 billion in infrastructure programs announced in Budget 2000 and 2001, this brings the federal government's recent investment in the nation's infrastructure to over $8 billion.

Similarly, in its Budget 2003 on February 18, the Government of British Columbia committed a total of $650 million in additional transportation improvements over the next three years, including these projects and investments in Heartlands roads.

Contacts:

PMO Press Office
(613) 957-5555

Michael Morton
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier of British Columbia
(250) 213-8218

BACKGROUNDER

KICKING HORSE CANYON 10-MILE (PARK) BRIDGE

The Kicking Horse Pass is located on the Trans-Canada Highway and extends 80-kilometres through the Rocky Mountains between Golden, British Columbia and Lake Louise, Alberta. The 25 kilometres between Golden and the west boundary of Yoho National Park (Canyon Section) are within provincial jurisdiction. The Kicking Horse Canyon section of the Trans-Canada Highway was constructed in the mid-1950s with the Yoho (5-Mile) and Park (10-Mile) bridges completed in 1956. The Kicking Horse Canyon Project involves upgrading the 25-kilometre section of the Trans-Canada Highway to a modern four-lane standard.

The first priority is the twinning of the 5-Mile (Yoho) Bridge. The project, announced by the Government of Canada in July 2002, is currently underway; the Governments of Canada provided $23 million through the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program for this project.

The second priority is the 10-Mile (Park) Bridge Replacement. The project's estimated cost is $125 million to which the Governments of Canada and British Columbia will each contribute $62.5 million. The Government of Canada's contribution will be made through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

Both of these projects were deemed necessary due to the treacherous condition of the bridges and nearby area. The accident rate in the Kicking Horse Canyon is more than double the provincial average. Between 1992 and 2001, there were almost 500 accidents causing 16 deaths and 354 injuries in the area.

Improvements to the 10-Mile (Park) Bridge involve the replacement of the existing 10-Mile (Park) Bridge, construction of new structures, upgrading of the approach curves and the construction of over 5 km of new highway.

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