LANGLEY, B.C. (May 6, 2005) — To keep fueling the oil and gas, forestry, and mining industries through the heart of B.C., the provincial government confirmed recently it will give $200 million for the first phase of a project to four-lane what’s known as the Cariboo Connector.

The project is expected to enhance safety and boost capacity on the 460-km portion of Hwy. 97 between Cache Creek and Prince George.

The Cariboo Connector will open up the North the same way the Coquihalla opened up the Interior,” B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said. “This new highway will provide northern communities with a first-class trade corridor that will support increased commercial traffic due to our rapidly expanding economy.”

The sections of Highway 97 with the highest traffic volumes will be widened first. In rural areas, four-laning will be done where passing lanes are required. Eventually, the remaining portions will also be four-laned, the B.C. Trucking Association says.

The BCTA reports that Phase 1 of the program will begin immediately with about $200 million in projects initiated over five-years, including:

— Old Cariboo to Buckhorn-Damms Road: a three-kilometre, four-lane project just south of the Intersection of Old Cariboo Highway and Hwy. 97 south of Prince George will undergo design in 2005.

— Plett Road: a three-kilometre four-lane project about 35 km south of Prince George. The project will begin this year and reach final completion in 2006.

— Simon Fraser Bridge: a four-lane bridge improvement project will commence engineering work this year. The Simon Fraser Bridge improvement is seen as a major project in the Prince George area, the BCTA says.

— Red Bluff Road – a two-kilometre four-lane project south of Quesnel. Design work will commence this year with project completion in 2007.