SURREY - Premier Christy Clark marked the half-way completion milestone of the expanded South Fraser Perimeter Road.

"British Columbia is North America's gateway of choice for Asia Pacific trade and to capitalize on this opportunity, we are aggressively investing in our key transportation links," said Premier Clark. "The new South Fraser Perimeter Road is a key example of our commitment to getting our goods to market and will connect Pacific Gateway facilities with access to borders, the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and the B.C. Interior."

"Thanks to the Government of Canada's strategic investments and partnerships in building the Asia-Pacific Gateway, we are creating jobs for hardworking Canadians here at home, and helping Canadian exports to fast-growing Asia-Pacific countries reach record levels", said Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. "We are also generating new business opportunities, improving the flow of traffic for commuters, enhancing the efficiency of this world-leading transportation system, attracting investments, and contributing to Canada's global competitiveness."

"We are committed to building on our world-class transportation network, creating jobs and improving the quality of life for B.C. families," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom. "The SFPR will help meet the transportation needs of our growing communities in the Lower Mainland and serve expanding markets by providing a four-lane expressway for commercial, commuter and tourism traffic."

To date, the Pacific Gateway Alliance has completed more than $12 billion in port, rail, air and road improvements, including work to date on the SFPR. A further $10 billion is being invested in key transportation projects that are underway. B.C. is targeting an additional $25 billion to serve expanding Asian demand for Canadian products, while improving the province's transportation network so goods and people can move safely and smoothly around British Columbia.

The $1.3-billion South Fraser Perimeter Road is expected to create 4,000 construction jobs and 7,000 long-term jobs in manufacturing, light industrial, and small-business operations in Surrey and Delta. The new route supports the "Getting Goods to Market" objective in 'Canada Starts Here - The BC Jobs Plan'. The federal government is an important contributor to the South Fraser Perimeter Road expansion, funding $365 million to the project.

This new four-lane route on the south side of the Fraser River will transform the Lower Mainland by saving time for commuters, the trucking industry and visitors. Once complete, the SFPR will also connect with major crossings along the Fraser River, including the Massey Tunnel, Alex Fraser Bridge, Pattullo Bridge, Port Mann Bridge and the Golden Ears Bridge.

Learn More:

http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/ourprogress/building-markets-growing-jobs/

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/PacificGateway/index.htm

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/gateway/SFPR/sfpr.htm

http://www.sfprconstruction.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Sara MacIntyre
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
250 580-7701

Jeff Knight
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 356-7707

BACKGROUNDER

Pacific Gateway investments: completed, underway and future

Since 2005, the Province and its Pacific Gateway Alliance partners have committed $22 billion worth of investment in the network of transportation infrastructure that forms trade corridors with the Asia Pacific and other regions of the world. This includes roads, rail lines, ports, and airport infrastructure. Of this $22 billion:

Approximately $12 billion worth of projects have been completed, for example:

• Golden Ears Bridge
• Kicking Horse Canyon Project (Phases 1 and 2)
• Cariboo Connector Program (Phase 1)
• Fairview Terminal Prince Rupert (Phase 1)
• Border infrastructure improvements
• Bulk and container port expansion in Vancouver
• Rail capacity improvements

The remaining $10 billion worth of projects are underway, for example:

• Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project
• South Fraser Perimeter Road
• Highway 1 improvements (from Kamloops to Alberta border)
• Terminal upgrades at Port Metro Vancouver and Prince Rupert
• Rail capacity improvements

Going forward, through 'The Pacific Gateway Transportation Strategy 2012-2020', the Province and its Pacific Gateway Alliance partners have identified at least $25 billion in additional investment (by 2020) required to meet projected demand in key B.C./Canadian growth sectors.

This $25 billion in new investment includes:

• $3.1 billion to increase major road and rail capacity, including:
• New provincial investment of $700 million over the next five years to increase capacity on key Provincial highways to support trade.
• Investment of $300 million for two phases of construction on the Prince Rupert Road Rail Utility Corridor; including a $15-million contribution from the Province toward the $90 million first phase, as announced in the BC Jobs Plan.
• Provincial investment of $5.6 million in border infrastructure and information systems to improve border-crossing efficiency, as announced in the BC Jobs Plan.
• $2.1 billion of private-sector rail improvements between 2013 and 2015, in addition to $700 million underway in 2012.

• $18 billion to support the previously announced BC Jobs Plan goal of three Liquefied Natural Gas plants in B.C.
• $222 million to increase access to natural resources in B.C., including:
• Continued Provincial investment of $85 million in the Oil and Gas Rural Road Improvement Program.
• $137 million investment in the Sierra Yoyo Desan Road to access the Horn River and Cordova Basins in Northeast B.C.

• $3.8 billion to increase bulk and container terminal capacity at ports in B.C., including:
• Up to $1.1 billion to expand coal terminal capacity in Vancouver and Prince Rupert to accommodate up to 93 million tonnes per year by 2020.
• Up to $60 million to expand metal and mineral capacity in Northwest B.C. and Vancouver to accommodate up to seven million tonnes per year by 2020.
• Up to $700 million to develop additional potash terminal capacity of 24 million tonnes per year by 2020.
• Over $30 million to develop port terminal capacity for forest products in the North.
• Over $2 billion worth of improvements to Roberts Bank Terminal 2 to increase container terminal capacity.
• $280 million to carry out the Deltaport Terminal, Road and Rail Improvement Project, including a $50-million Provincial contribution as announced in the BC Jobs Plan.

Contacts:

Sara MacIntyre
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
250 580-7701

Jeff Knight
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 356-7707