SURREY, B.C. (April 20, 2005) — The B.C. government has agreed to fund a new FAST truck lane extension on Hwy. 15 to the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey, B.C.

The move was applauded by both the B.C. Trucking Association and the Canadian Trucking Alliance as a way to ease congestion en route to the busy crossing. Over a million trucks alone cross the border from Surrey to Washington State each year.

Construction of the $2.6 million highway extension is expected to begin in the summer of 2005 and be completed by spring next year. Funding for the extension is provided under the Canada/British Columbia Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program agreement signed in March 2002. The Government of Canada will contribute $1.05 million and the province of B.C. $1.55 million.

“This is money well spent by governments and an investment in our future economic health,” said CTA CEO David Bradley in a press release. “Shippers, carriers and truck drivers need to see the benefits of enrolment in the FAST program — and dedicated lanes that reduce delays, provide this benefit.”