The first year of the Government of British Columbia’s 10-year transportation plan has resulted in upgrades to transportation infrastructure around the province, helping to grow the economy and improve safety.

The Government of B.C. invested approximately $800 million in B.C. on the Move projects last year.

“B.C. on the Move is in top gear as we enter our second year of the plan to support priority transportation and safety improvements,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “In addition to the success we’ve had with our shorter-term priorities, good progress has been made on longer-term projects in the plan as well, like the new McKenzie Interchange in Saanich, and the new bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel on Highway 99 in the Lower Mainland.”

The government committed almost $1 billion in the first three years of the plan to ensure B.C.’s transportation network has the capacity and reliability to meet the transport and trade needs of the province. Last year, the Government of B.C. invested more than $300 million into projects that will support that goal. These include four-lane improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway east of Kamloops, with two projects completed, two underway and another eight projects in planning-engineering.

In Northeastern B.C., highlights of the first year of the 10-year transportation plan include the completion of the Highway 97N Mile 63 passing-lane project and the start of construction on Highway 97N four-laning projects at South Taylor Hill and Tower Lake.

Keeping existing highways and bridges in good condition is also a priority of the ministry. $300 million was committed to highway, bridge and side road improvement projects in the first year of B.C. on the Move, with more than 110 projects tendered. As well, over 20 rest areas on highways throughout B.C. were upgraded.

$30 million was invested into the Province’s new Road Safety Program, with more than 70 safety improvements completed in the program’s first year. $6 million was committed to cycling infrastructure improvements and $6 million committed to airport improvements through the new BC Air Access Program.

The ministry also made changes to improve safety in the party-bus industry, added resources to the Office of the Independent Container Trucking Commissioner to improve industry oversight and introduced new “keep right, let others pass” legislation. More details on actions from year one of B.C. on the Move are available online at: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/government/about-the-bc-government/transportation/bconthemove-reportcard-1.pdf

More than $18 billion has been invested to improve British Columbian’s transportation infrastructure since 2001. Over the next three years, $3.4 billion has been committed, including a $2.7-billion provincial investment.

Learn more:

B.C. on the Move, the Province’s 10-year Transportation Plan, is available online at: www.gov.bc.ca/bconthemove