A contract for a $31.5-million project has been awarded to Lafarge Canada Inc. to build a new interchange at Mountain Highway where it intersects with Highway 1 in the District of North Vancouver, creating about 110 jobs over the life of the project, MLA for Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite announced today on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone.

The B.C. government is providing $23.5 million and the Government of Canada is contributing $12.5 for the $36 million highway interchange project. Under this contract, $31.5 million will go towards building a new interchange with additional ramps where Mountain Highway intersects with Highway 1, and $4.5 million is dedicated towards engineering and property costs.

To take advantage of the work underway while the interchange is being constructed, the contract with Lafarge Canada Inc. includes an additional $5 million for municipal infrastructure upgrades and utility relocations.

“This new interchange will be welcome news for residents who rely on Highway 1 to get to work or school, for commercial drivers who need reliable highways to deliver goods on time and for tourists heading to Horseshoe Bay to catch a ferry or take the Sea to Sky up to Squamish and Whistler,” said Thornthwaite. “We will continue working in close collaboration with our federal and municipal partners to ensure we’re making smart and cost-effective investments in our transportation infrastructure.”

This interchange upgrade, combined with the District of North Vancouver’s $14 million Keith Bridge and Keith Road expansion, is designed to improve safety and ease one of the Lower Mainland’s worst traffic bottlenecks. The Mountain Highway Interchange project is the first phase of the four-phased $198.6-million Lower Lynn Interchanges Improvement project, which is slated for completion in spring 2021.

“The start of construction on this major transportation infrastructure project is a huge step towards breaking apart one of the largest traffic bottlenecks on both the North Shore and in Metro Vancouver,” said Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness and MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale. “We’ve arrived at this project milestone after taking public feedback into consideration, thoughtful planning and through great teamwork with our funding partners.”

“As the communities on the North Shore continue to grow, we need to ensure our roads are capable of handling the increase in commuter and commercial vehicle traffic,” said Ralph Sultan, MLA for West Vancouver-Capilano. “This major interchange project will help reduce travel times and congestion for residents and visitors on this busy section of Highway 1. We’re proud to see this project go ahead as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada.”

“It continues to be important for local governments and the Province of B.C. to work together to provide efficient transportation infrastructure to benefit all North Shore residents as they travel along Highway 1,” said Mayor of North Vancouver District Richard Walton.

Construction on the new interchange and associated road work will start this spring with the project expected to complete in fall 2018.

This project supports the B.C. on the Move commitment to improve B.C. roads and highways for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods; supporting the province’s growing resource sectors. Over the next three years the ministry and its partners are investing over $4.6 billion in priority transportation investments as part of this plan.