People living in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland region are benefiting from more than $8 million in transportation investments made to support the region during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan, more than 20 projects ranging from active transportation improvements and transportation upgrades in rural and remote communities, to climate adaptation projects have been completed. Throughout the province, more than 180 projects received economic recovery funding.
“Investment in our transportation infrastructure has never been more important as we focus on recovery from the pandemic,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “These infrastructure recovery projects are important for communities as they improve access to crucial services and provide good jobs that lay the foundation for strong economic growth.”
Through StrongerBC, the Province has provided:
- more than $5 million for projects focused on active transportation safety and access improvements on provincial right-of-ways. Projects included multi-use pathways and rail trails, highway crossings, transit stop improvements, sidewalk installations, lighting enhancements and shoulder widening that make active modes of transportation safer and more accessible;
- nearly $500,000 to support projects focused on climate adaptation to improve the resiliency of the region’s highway network and decrease the negative effects of climate events, including flooding, wildfires and erosion. Projects included riverbank erosion protection, creek channel training, culvert upsizing, flood protection works, slope erosion protection and avalanche system maintenance; and
- nearly $3 million to support projects focused on upgrading side and secondary roads in rural and remote communities. These projects were part of a $418-million investment to revitalize community infrastructure, enhance connections between communities and help get people back to work. Projects included paving, shoulder widening, lighting installation and crosswalk markings.
One project to receive funding was a broad overhaul of Sylvester Road and farm roads in the Fraser Valley/Hatzic Prairie area. Mill and fill paving was used to renew the surface, and road-base strengthening was completed to rehabilitate routes that had degraded due to high levels of commercial traffic.
“Building stronger roads creates jobs and makes it safer and more convenient for people and vehicles to get around,” said Pam Alexis, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission. “British Columbians in all areas of the province, including rural and remote communities, count on reliable roads to access critical goods and services, and to stay connected to one another.”
StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan is one of the ways government is working to support businesses impacted by the pandemic, while building toward a more innovative, sustainable and inclusive economic future.
Learn More:
Learn more about B.C.'s strategy for more active transportation:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-environment/active-transportation
Learn more about B.C.'s strategy for climate adaptation:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/adaptation
Learn more about StrongerBC: BC’s economic recovery plan: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/
A backgrounder follows.