A safety upgrade will be made this fall to the Bonaparte Road/Highway 97 intersection as part of the second phase of improvements to the Cariboo Connector.

Northbound and southbound left turn lanes will be added to Highway 97 at the Bonaparte frontage road intersection. The new left turn lanes will improve safety for motorists accessing the Bonaparte reserve north of Cache Creek.

A $966,000 contract has been awarded to Dawson Construction Ltd. from Kamloops to do the intersection improvements. Work is underway and is scheduled to be completed by the end of October.

The B.C. government is investing $200 million over the next five years for Phase 2 of the Cariboo Connector. It is a key part of the new Pacific Gateway Transportation Strategy that commits $700 million over the next five years to increase capacity on key provincial highways to support trade and economic growth.

Phase 2 of the Cariboo Connector consists of nine projects, four of which are underway. In addition to the Bonaparte Road intersection improvements, work is in progress at 70 Mile and at Stormy Road south of 100 Mile House, which will add a total of 8.3 kilometres of four-lane highway to the corridor. Work is also underway on Highway 97 between Old Cariboo Road and Sintich Road near Prince George, adding 3.5 kilometres of four-lane highway.

The nine new projects will all be underway by 2017. At completion, nearly 50 per cent of the 440-km highway between Cache Creek and Prince George will be either three or four lanes wide, improving the safety and mobility of this important corridor.

Quote:

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Mary Polak -

"Work on Phase 2 of the Cariboo Connector is well underway, with $200 million in improvements to Highway 97 planned over the next five years. This upgrade to the Bonaparte Road intersection is the fourth Phase 2 project to start this year and will make a big difference to the safety of this stretch of Highway 97."

Learn More:

For a photo of the existing Bonaparte Road/Highway 97 intersection, visit: www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/8098414982/in/photostream

Follow the work of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure online at: www.tranbc.ca

Media Contact:

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