Phase 2 of the project to improve safety on Highway 1 between Monte Creek and Pritchard is going to tender this week, with construction to begin this year.

Phase 2 of the Monte Creek to Pritchard project will widen a 7.5-kilometre section of Highway 1 to four lanes, with a grade-separated interchange at Pritchard. This work will improve safety and increase capacity and movement on this important route for commuters, commercial traffic and tourists.

Safety improvements include 2.5-metre-wide paved shoulders and a 2.6-metre-wide median with concrete barrier. There also will be improved access to the highway with turn lanes, deceleration lanes and new frontage roads. The new interchange at Pritchard will significantly improve access to and from the Trans-Canada Highway for local residents.

Phase 1 of the project, which widened a three-kilometre section of Highway 1 to four lanes between Monte Creek and Bostock Road, was completed in 2012. Phase 2 is scheduled for completion in 2014.

The total cost of the Monte Creek to Pritchard project is $49 million. The Government of Canada is contributing up to a maximum of $16.7 million through the Building Canada Fund. The government of B.C. is investing $32.3 million for this highway safety improvement.

The Highway 1 Monte Creek to Pritchard project is part of the Government of B.C.'s commitment to invest $650 million over 10 years into Highway 1 between Kamloops and the Alberta border. 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 -

"This work supports our government's commitment to improve Highway 1 between Kamloops and the Alberta border. A wider, divided highway will improve safety for local families and other highway users, and will make one of our key trade corridors that much more reliable."

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake -

"Improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway east of Kamloops will make for better connections between local communities, and reduce travel times along the Trans-Canada Highway during peak travel periods. Making Highway 1 safer and more reliable is a priority for our government."

Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger -

"Highway 1 between Monte Creek and Pritchard is very busy, particularly in the summer months. When complete, this section of Highway 1 will be safer for local residents and visitors to our region, and our province's main east-west link will be much improved."

Learn More:

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

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

Contact:

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