Nass River Bridge on Highway 37 being replaced thanks to federal and provincial funding

STEWART, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Oct. 24, 2016) - From visiting friends and relatives to getting goods to market, we rely on our roads, bridges and highways to support a vibrant economy and a great quality of life. Investing in modern transportation infrastructure helps create jobs and grow the middle class now while building the foundation for a strong economic future.

The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia today announced almost $24 million in combined funding to replace the single-lane Nass River Bridge.

Located on Highway 37, approximately 13 kilometres south of the Meziadin Junction and 50 kilometres east of Stewart, the bridge is a critical link for local residents and the resource sector. Highway 37 provides a critical north/south connection between Yukon Territory and Alaska to the north, and Terrace and Kitimat to the south and connects with Highway 16, a primary east/west route, across British Columbia. The current single-lane timber bridge will be replaced with a 2-lane concrete structure that can accommodate heavier loads.

Once complete, it will support the vital commercial transportation sector and growing industrial activity in the area. The project will also make the region more accessible and safer for both residents and tourists travelling through some of the most beautiful and remote areas of northern British Columbia.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is working in close partnership with British Columbia to ensure we make smart infrastructure investments that create safer roads for drivers, help grow the middle class and promote sustainable economic development. By supporting the replacement of the Nass River Bridge, we are increasing safety for local residents, helping regional businesses more efficiently transport their products, building long-term prosperity for years to come."

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"The current single-lane bridge over the Nass River is a bottleneck for resource and industrial traffic in the Northwest. By building a modern two-lane structure that can support industrial loads, we're opening up the Northwest to further economic opportunities, while improving access to recreational opportunities in the region."

Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada is contributing $10,677,500 to the Nass River Bridge Replacement Project through the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component - National and Regional Projects.
• The Government of British Columbia is contributing $13,122,500 for a total estimated project cost of $23,800,000.

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 (PTIC-NRP): 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.

Follow the work of the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure at:
http://tranbc.ca/.

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

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