Families and residents can now enjoy a new multi-use pathway along Highway 33. The trail adds another major piece to Kelowna's growing alternative transportation network.

The $1.5-million, four-kilometre pathway is part of the $15.6-million Mission Creek Bridge/Gordon Drive project, which was funded jointly by the federal, provincial and municipal governments, with the federal contribution coming from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The pathway component also included new transit shelters and pedestrian benches.

The City of Kelowna designed and constructed the 3.5-metre-wide pathway along the north side of Highway 33 between Black Mountain Road and Mackenzie Road. The new pathway will link to the existing trail network in the area.

"Our Government is proud to invest in projects that create local jobs and enable our communities to continue to grow and prosper," said Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Lake Country, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "The expansion of Kelowna's trail network will greatly improve the quality of life in our city for families, residents and visitors."

"By making it even more convenient and attractive to bike, walk, jog or wheel around the community, the new Highway 33 pathway expands on the long-term vision of improving alternate modes of travel in Kelowna," said Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick. "This project brings Kelowna's total trail network to 330 kilometres."

Other components of the Mission Creek Bridge/Gordon Drive project included:

• The construction of the $8.1-million, four-lane Mission Creek Bridge and the widening of Gordon Drive, completed in October 2010.
• Work on Cawston Street South, which included sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements, completed in September 2011.

"Kelowna has the most extensive bike path network in Canada for a city its size," said Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray. "It started with the creation of dedicated bike lanes on roadways in late 1990s. An emphasis on the off-road network has grown in recent years to provide greater security and convenience of use by all ages."

Including the Highway 33 pathway, Kelowna's trail and bike lane network expanded by 11 kilometres since 2010, to a total of 330 kilometres. In 2010, a total of $14 million was invested toward Kelowna's pathway infrastructure, $11.5 million of which was cost-shared equally between the governments of Canada, British Columbia and the City of Kelowna, under the Active Transportation Network project.

Federal support for that project also comes from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. Working to create jobs, boost the economy and deliver results for communities, Canada's Economic Action Plan supported over 28,500 projects across the country. Across British Columbia, more than 440 projects received a total federal commitment of over $505 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. Although the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is now complete, the economic benefits of these projects will last for years to come.

Since October 2008, over $5.5 billion has been committed by the Province to more than 900 infrastructure projects in British Columbia, which the Province estimates will create more than 35,000 jobs over the life of the projects.

For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure, visit: infrastructure.gc.ca

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit: actionplan.gc.ca

To download a short broadcast-quality video highlighting a few of the many successful infrastructure projects across Canada, visit:

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/video/video-eng.html

More information about bike routes and alternate forms of transportation is available at: http://www.kelowna.ca/cm/page82.aspx

Media Contacts:

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241

Andrew Albiston
Regional Projects Manager
250 469-8569

Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of Canada's Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613 991-0700 Infrastructure Canada
613 960-9251
1 877 250-7154 (toll free)