More than $13 million in improvements will be made to highways and bridges in the Northwest region, increasing safety and efficiency for families and industry.

A $5.9-million contract has been awarded to Belvedere Place Contracting of Kelowna for a new bridge on Highway 37A at Bitter Creek, approximately 13 kilometres east of Stewart. The bridge was washed out during the flooding in September 2011 and a new permanent structure will replace the temporary bridge that was built to allow access to Stewart following the flood.

A 51-metre steel and concrete bridge will be built, complete with steel pilings and new, stronger approaches, to protect the structure from further damage in case of high water in Bitter Creek. Work will start at the end of March and is scheduled to be completed by mid-October.

A $4.8-million contract was awarded to Peter's Bros. Construction Ltd. of Penticton to pave 27 kilometres of Highway 16 east of Prince Rupert, from McClymont to Fredericks Street and Galloway Rapids Bridge to the Tyee Overhead. The asphalt surface on these sections of the highway is showing signs of wear and this paving will protect the infrastructure. Work will start in early July and is scheduled to be completed by late September.

A $2.4-million contract has been awarded to White Bear Industries of Terrace to sealcoat approximately 65 kilometres of Highway 16 east of Terrace between St. Croix Creek and Boulder West Creek and on Highway 37A from Bitter Creek Bridge to Stewart. This section of Highway 16 is heavily used by the trucking industry supporting expansions at the Port of Prince Rupert and Rio Tinto Alcan's operations near Kitimat. Highway 37A has undergone extensive surface damage due to flooding and flood repairs in the last two years. Work on the project will start in mid-May and is scheduled to be completed by early September.

Quote:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Mary Polak -

"These are important improvements to our transportation infrastructure in the Northwest region - for the burgeoning oil and gas industry, for expansions at the Port of Prince Rupert and for families and tourists that travel these routes. The new bridge near Stewart will provide stability for travellers through this region after the devastating flooding in 2011."

Learn More:

Learn more about transportation projects happening throughout B.C. at: www.th.gov.bc.ca/tranprojectsbc/

Contact:

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