January 20, 2010
Contract Awarded for Highway 1 Upgrade

SALMON ARM – The $12.2 million contract for upgrading 4.8 kilometres of Highway 1 starting near Hilltop Road and extending easterly to Balmoral Road has been awarded to Brentwood Enterprises.

“The safety and mobility improvements to this section of Highway 1 will give drivers a better level of service thanks to the additional lanes, the smoothing of curves, along with wider median, lanes and shoulders,” says Shuswap MLA George Abbott.  “The additional improvements to several side roads, intersection and access upgrades will also facilitate the smooth flow of traffic.”

“The Government of Canada is pleased to support the Highway 1 project”, says Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.   “These upgrades to the Trans-Canada highway will improve safety and accessibility, decrease travel time, and increase trade opportunities, which will benefit the people of British Columbia as well as local communities and businesses.”

The project consists of upgrading 4.8 km of Highway 1, including approximately 4 km of four-laning. This will include a paved median that will accommodate the future addition of a barrier. Other features include: improved horizontal geometry; wider lanes and shoulders; intersection and access upgrades that include a new interchange. Also, approximately 1 kilometre of the side road network will be reconstructed.

The federal funding for this project comes from the Mountain Pine Beetle Program and is being delivered through the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative. Under the Program, Canada will fund up to half of the eligible project costs.

Work is anticipated to start in the spring of 2010 and will be completed by the fall of 2011.

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