A thriving economy needs strategic investments in transportation infrastructure to keep people and goods moving efficiently. Important projects such as this one increase job opportunities and provide a better quality of life for the middle class.

The Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia announced financial support today to replace the Parsnip River Bridge near Mackenzie, British Columbia, which will improve safety and capacity on Highway 97 North, a significant provincial transportation route.

Parsnip River Bridge is a critical link for communities and resource sector development in northeastern British Columbia. The current steel truss bridge, constructed in 1953, will be replaced with a wider, open-top structure that can handle larger loads along the corridor for major commercial industries. The new bridge will eliminate the current height restrictions and will have a greater capacity to accommodate heavy loads required to service resource industries like mining, forestry, oil and gas.

The Government of Canada is contributing up to $13,653,246 to the project. British Columbia  will contribute the remaining funds for the project, which is estimated to cost approximately $31.6 million in total. 

Quotes:

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi,Minister of Infrastructure and Communities –

“The Government of Canada is working in close partnership with British Columbia to ensure we make smart infrastructure investments that help grow the middle class, promote sustainable development and increase public safety. By supporting improvements to critical transportation routes in the province, we will help local businesses move their goods to national and international markets and foster long-term prosperity for years to come.”

The Honourable Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure –

“We are continuing work to upgrade Highway 97 to ensure the safe, efficient movement of goods to support our resource sectors, as we committed to in B.C. on the Move. The replacement of the Parsnip River Bridge will remove another height restriction from this corridor, and help keep commercial traffic flowing safely and smoothly.”

Mike Morris, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie –

“Expanding the transportation infrastructure throughout our region is essential to meet the demands of the economic growth we are experiencing. It’s encouraging whenever we can get to work on projects like this as it will only mean more growth and opportunity for our communities.”

Quick Facts

• Construction is expected to begin in fall 2017 and complete in summer 2019.
• British Columbia is prioritizing the upgrade and replacement of bridges and overpasses to accommodate the increasingly heavy and large loads that industry needs to transport, as part of its 10-year transportation plan, B.C. on the Move.

Associated links

Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada’s new $120-billion infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/index-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/bc-eng.html

Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nrp-pnr-prog-eng.html 

New Building Canada Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html