The new Wildmare Bridge on Highway 97 is now complete, announced Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone. The $4.1-million project is part of the Province’s 10-year transportation plan, B.C. on the Move.

“Upgrading key highways and bridges for heavy and over-sized hauling is a priority in the North, something we heard from most of the people who participated in the consultations for B.C. on the Move,” said Stone. “Highway 97 is a vital corridor in this region and the new Wildmare Bridge can now accommodate the growing commercial traffic and support economic growth by making this route safer and more accessible.”

Located seven kilometres south of Chetwynd, the bridge is now wider and longer and will accommodate heavy equipment and large infrastructure as it moves along Highway 97 to industrial areas in the Peace region. Cewe Infrastructure Ltd. was awarded the contract for the project, which was delivered on time and on budget.

Replacing bridges so they can accommodate increasingly heavy and large loads needed by industry is an important part of the provincial trucking strategy. This, along with the rehabilitation of provincial highways, is a major theme of B.C. on the Move. The Province will invest $180 million over the next three years to repair and replace provincial bridges; infrastructure that will support oil and gas industries, forestry, and mining exploration and development.

“The new Wildmare Bridge is going to make a significant difference for those who live here and for those who travel along Highway 97 for their livelihoods,” said MLA for Peace River South, Mike Bernier. “The resource sector continues to grow in this region and improvements to our roads and highways are extremely important.”

B.C. on the Move will enhance safety, grow the economy, maintain and replace aging infrastructure, and support trade for B.C.’s expanding resource sectors through Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway. Over the next three years, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will invest up to $2.5 billion to improve B.C.’s transportation network.

Learn More:

Find out more about B.C. on the Move, the Province’s 10-year transportation plan, at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/transportationplan/