The government of British Columbia is moving ahead with plans to widen the Trans-Canada Highway between Kamloops and the Alberta border, to improve safety and support goods movement, trade and tourism.

Government's commitment to invest $650 million over 10 years into Highway 1 between Kamloops and the Alberta border was announced by Premier Christy Clark on Sept. 28, 2012 in an address to the Union of B.C. Municipalities.

A public engagement process will help shape the government's $650-million investment over the next 10 years to improve the safety, reliability and mobility of the Trans-Canada Highway between Kamloops and the Alberta border. This future work will build on the over $700-million invested in Highway 1 improvements since 2001.

There will be a variety of methods for the public and stakeholders to be involved, including online engagement, stakeholder meetings and six public information sessions. The communities visited will include Kamloops, Chase, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Revelstoke and Golden.

As part of the engagement process, the public will have the opportunity to learn more about projects currently under development. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will consider all input gathered as it finalizes these projects for tender and as it develops future projects.

The Highway 1 Kamloops to Alberta Four-Laning Program will create 3,300 direct jobs over the next 10 years.

Quotes:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Mary Polak -

"Widening the remainder of the Trans-Canada Highway between Kamloops to the Alberta border is critical for supporting goods movement, trade and tourism, and growing our economy. By engaging local communities and other stakeholders, we'll be able to modify and improve the projects already under development and prioritize additional work going forward."

Minister of Environment and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake -

"A safe, reliable Trans-Canada Highway is a priority for government, it's vital for communities along the corridor, and it's extremely important to the economy of the province as a whole. I encourage people to come out to these Highway 1 open houses to learn more about plans under development and to offer their input on planned and future Highway 1 upgrades."

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the provincial and federal governments have invested over $700 million in improvements to Highway 1 between Kamloops and the Alberta border.
• Over the last 10 years, 45 kilometres of Highway 1 have been widened to four lanes, with another 10 kilometres in the advanced planning stage.
• There is a total of 440 kilometres of highway between Kamloops and the Alberta border, 339 kilometres of which are under provincial jurisdiction.

Learn More:

Visit: www.bchwy1.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

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

BACKGROUNDER

The public and stakeholder engagement process will begin Feb. 7, 2013, and includes a variety of methods for the public and stakeholders to be involved, including online engagement, stakeholder meetings and six public information sessions.

Kamloops:

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013
Public Information Session: 5 - 8 p.m.
Hotel 540
540 Victoria St.

Chase:

Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013
Public Information Session: 5 - 8 p.m.
Chase Community Centre
547 Shuswap Ave.

Salmon Arm:

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013
Public Information Session: 5 - 8 p.m.
Comfort Inn and Suites
1090 22nd St. N.E.

Sicamous:

Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013
Public Information Session: 5 - 8 p.m.
Sicamous Recreation Centre
1121 Eagle Pass Way

Revelstoke:

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013
Public Information Session: 5 - 8 p.m.
Revelstoke Community Centre
600 Campbell Ave.

Golden:

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013
Public Information Session: 5 - 8 p.m.
Golden Civic Centre
806 10th Ave. S.