Improving the safety and reliability of the Highway 97 Cariboo Connector continues, with the section of four-laning between Dragon Lake Road and Quartz Road south of Quesnel now complete.

“The B.C. government’s commitment to widen Highway 97 from two lanes to four lanes means a safer and more efficient trip for the commercial trucking industry and the traveling public,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone. “Four lanes allow for slower vehicles and trucks to move into the right lane resulting in more efficient travel and less driver frustration.”

In addition to widening an almost three kilometre section from Dragon Lake Road to Quartz Road, acceleration and deceleration lanes were added, along with left turn slots at Sales and Campsite Roads. This project joins up with the Dale Lake Road to Dragon Lake Road four-laning project south of Quesnel, which together equal a new six-kilometre section of continuous four-laning along this stretch since the Cariboo Connector program was first announced.

“Connectivity is extremely important to economic diversification,” said Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes. “Workers also upgraded the intersections at Sales and Campsite roads and improved the lighting in the area. This will allow vehicles to merge on and off the highway more safely.”

This project is part of $200-million committed for Phase 2 of the Cariboo Connector program that will add 30 kilometres of new four-lane sections to Highway 97. This builds on the $240 million already invested through Phase 1 of the program. The Government of B.C. has now completed six out of nine sections that were identified as part of the Cariboo Connector Program – Phase 2.

Learn More:

B.C. on the Move is available online: www.gov.bc.ca/bconthemove