Highway 97 Improvements Get Green Light

BC LIBERAL GOVERNMENT CAUCUS

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

February 3, 2011

HIGHWAY 97 IMPROVEMENTS GET GREEN LIGHT

KELOWNA – The $77.9 million Highway 97 Winfield – Oyama four-laning project has received federal environmental approval. The joint federal – provincial project will now go to tender.

“This project is a great example of the strong partnership between the Government of Canada and the province,” says Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan. “Investments such as this will improve safety and boost economic growth.”

“I'm sure many who have also driven this stretch of highway will welcome the improved safety that this project will deliver,” says Kelowna Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick. “It will also generate new opportunities in trade and tourism and demonstrate the commitment of both governments to building world-class infrastructure.”

The Winfield - Oyama project involves building a nine-kilometre four-lane highway west

of the existing two-lane section of Highway 97 between Winfield and Oyama. The Province is contributing $44.3 million and the federal government is providing up to $33.6 million through the

Building Canada Plan toward the total $77.9 million cost. Work is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

Federal funding for these investments comes from the $33-billion Building Canada Plan.

Through the unprecedented plan, the federal government will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country.

On Nov. 6, 2007, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia signed an Infrastructure Framework Agreement under Building Canada worth $2.2 billion for infrastructure initiatives from 2007 to 2014. The two governments also launched on July 7, 2008, a call for infrastructure projects in smaller communities to be funded under this larger plan.

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For more information, contact Jeff Melland, B.C. Liberal Government Caucus Communications:

Phone: 250-356-0389

Email: jeff.melland@leg.bc.ca