The Province is investing over $54 million in South Peace highways and roads in 2011-12, creating jobs for local workers and improving the condition and safety of local roads for South Peace families.

A key project is the work on the intersection of 13th St. and Alaska Ave. in Dawson Creek. The intersection will be improved, including full signalization to greatly improve safety.

Also underway this year will be improvements to intersections on Highway 2 near Pouce Coupe. The intersection of Highway 2 and Old Edmonton Highway will be improved, and a new left-turn lane into Pouce Park will be added allowing easier access for visitors. These projects will be delivered using local labour and equipment, and are scheduled to begin in July.

South of Pouce Coupe, over 13 km of roads in the Tate Creek area will be upgraded and double seal-coated to minimize dust, while improving the road surface for residents and industry.

Visitors to Monkman Provincial Park will benefit from improved access, with work on Monkman Park Road. This project will include gravelling, grading, and base stabilization and will be delivered by day labour.

Another project that will support the local economy by making use of local labour and equipment is the South Peace gravel program. A number of gravel roads in the South Peace will be strengthened and enhanced with additional aggregate, to improve the road surface and safety.

Of the $54 million invested in the South Peace this year, $19 million is funded through the Province's Oil and Gas Rural Road Improvement Program (OGRRIP). The Province has extended its commitment to improving rural roads through this program by investing $30 million this year in the Peace overall.

Since 2001, the ministry has partnered with other agencies to invest over $500 million in the South Peace for road and bridge improvements and maintenance.

Quote:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom -

"This will be a busy year for highway work in the South Peace. The result will be a stronger, more efficient highway and side road network that will improve travel and safety for local residents and support increased industry investment and activity. Where possible, we're making use of local labour and equipment, which means good-paying jobs that will help support families in the region."

Quick Facts:

* Of the more than 19,000 km of dirt and gravel roads in the province, 3,000 km are located in the Peace.

* The Province has invested more than $925 million in road and bridge improvements and maintenance in the Northeast since 2001.

Learn More:

Follow the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure online at: http://tranbc.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Jeff Knight

Communications Manager

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

250 356-7707

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

BACKGROUNDER

For Immediate Release

2011TRAN0033-000578

May 20, 2011 Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

South Peace District Highway Projects for 2011-12

Oil and Gas Rural Road Improvement Program projects:

* Tate Creek Area Roads: Strengthen and seal-coat approximately 7 km of South Tate Creek Road, 2.5 km of Lansfried Road and 3.8 km of North Tate Creek Road.

* Braden Road Phase 3: Widen, strengthen and sealcoat 15 km of Braden Road to complete the entire length of Braden Road between Highway 97 North & Highway 97 South.

* Bear Mountain Road Upgrades: Drainage improvements, gravelling, and base repairs for approximately 3.6 km. Delivered using local equipment and operators through ministry's Hired Equipment Program.

* South Peace miscellaneous side roads paving: First-time hard surfacing of the Rolla community side road network, and of various Dawson Creek area subdivision roads including: South Dawson Road (1.4 km), Patterson Road (2.9 km), Kendrew Road (0.6 km), Imperial Road (0.2km), Micro Road (0.7 km), Friesen Road (0.8km) and Willow Valley Estate Road (0.3 km). Overlay pave the Windrem Creek Bridge.

Additional South Peace projects:

* 13th Street/Alaska Avenue Intersection Improvement: Full intersection improvement including traffic signal in partnership with the City of Dawson Creek.

* Highway 2 Corridor Improvements: Intersection improvements at Pouce Park, and Old Edmonton Highway along the Highway 2 corridor near Pouce Coupe. Other improvements include: corridor lighting enhancements from Pouce Coupe to Old Edmonton Highway, slide remediation, drainage improvements, and access improvements to the Pouce Coupe Park. Delivered using local equipment and operators through the ministry's Hired Equipment Program.

* Monkman Park Road: Improved access to Monkman Park, to include gravelling, grading, and base stabilization. Delivered using local equipment and operators through the ministry's Hired Equipment Program.

* Highway 97, Highway 2 and DGR Paving: Mill/fill the Highway 97/Dangerous Goods Route (DGR) intersection in Dawson Creek and mill/fill sections of the DGR between Highway 97 and Highway 2. Mill/fill segments of Highway 2/8th St. through Dawson Creek. Mill/fill segments of Highway 2 south of Pouce Coupe.

* Highway 97S/DGR Intersection Improvement: Intersection improvement including full signalization and acceleration lane.

* Stewart Lake Road: Multi-year project with drainage and surface improvements this year followed by base strengthening, widening and seal-coating of approx 9.5 km of the Stewart Lake Road. Delivered using local equipment and operators through the ministry's Hired Equipment Program.

* Highway 97N West Pine Overpass: Grade reduction of Highway 97N at the West Pine Overpass, to increase clearance for industrial traffic.

* Highway 97 - Browns Road 247 to Road 223: Hot-In-Place Recycle 20 km of Highway 97 between Rd 247 and Rd 223, west of Dawson Creek.

* South Peace Gravel Program: Upgrade and strengthen existing road structures and perform brushing on various roads impacted by oil and gas industrial traffic. Delivered using local equipment and operators through the ministry's Hired Equipment Program.

* South Peace Dust Control: Apply dust control on various roads impacted by the oil and gas industry.

* Braden Road Phase 2: Completion of Phase 2 project that commenced in 2010. Widen, strengthen and double seal-coat approximately 9 km of Braden Road from Road 244 grid end of pavement south to Road 218M.

* Magusin Road Preferred Route - Phase 2: Intersection improvement of Highway 97 / Magusin Road and the widening, base strengthening and hard surfacing of Magusin Road (3.7 km) to support the preferred routing program for oil and gas industry traffic. Delivered using local equipment and operators through the ministry's Hired Equipment Program.

* Highway 97 Bennett Creek to Link Creek: Completion of realignment and reconstruction of approximately 11 km of Highway 97, 83 km southeast of Chetwynd. To include two new bridges. Begun in 2009, with completion scheduled in 2011.

* Emulsion Crack-sealing: Crack-sealing at various locations along Highway 29S, Highway 52N, Highway 52E, Highway 97 and Dangerous Goods Route.

* East Pine Overpass: Design work on project to lower highway grade for better clearance for industrial traffic. Construction commencing 2012.

* Bissett Creek Bridge: Design work for bridge replacement. Construction commencing 2012.

Contact:

Jeff Knight

Communications Manager

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

250 356-7707

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect