VICTORIA, B.C. — The B.C. Transportation Financing Authority has announced it will be sinking $301 million into capital improvements to the province’s highways this year.

“This investment will go a long way toward protecting, preserving and expanding B.C.’s highway system,” said Helmut Giesbrecht, minister of transportation and highways. “It builds on the accelerated investments we have made in recent years and protects our asset base while providing a strong emphasis on regional improvements.”

The capital plan sets priorities for capital investments in order to best keep B.C.’s highways safe and efficient while supporting local economies and creating jobs and training opportunities.

Some of the projects that will benefit from the spending include the province’s northern roads initiative, which will receive $100 million. Over $100 million will be spent on the Interior and Kootenays region, including $28 million on the Trans-Canada corridor between Cache Creek and the Rockies. Vancouver Island will see $51 million, including $34 million to complete the last major construction on the Vancouver Island Highway project. And the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Fraser Valley will receive $47 million, including $20 million to be spent on traffic congestion relief.