VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Canada and B.C. governments are mending bridges and improving parts of the Trans-Canada Hwy in Kicking Horse Canyon.

Agreement was reached by the two governments to replace the Park (10-Mile) Bridge, upgrade approach curves, and construct and realign more than five-km of new four-lane highway east of Golden. Under the agreement, the Government of Canada will provide up to $62.5 million and the Government of British Columbia will provide the remainder of the budget for the project, estimated at $130 million.

“The Conservative government recognizes this highway as the most important east-west transportation link through the Rocky Mountains, which is why our investment in these improvements for the Kicking Horse pass area is so important for the people of British Columbia,” said Lawrence Cannon, federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “We intend to continue developing British Columbia’s major trade corridors to provide safe access to markets here and abroad.”

This project represents Phase 2 of British Columbia’s improvements to the 25-km section of the Trans-Canada Highway between the Highway 95 junction at Golden and the western Boundary of Yoho National Park. The Trans-Park Highway Group is designing, building, and partially financing the project, through a public-private partnership with the province.

Traffic growth over the next 25 years is expected to produce average volumes of 7,200 vehicles per day and summer volumes of 13,500 vehicles per day. Each day, up to 1,000 commercial transport trucks travel the Trans-Canada Highway through the Kicking Horse Canyon.

“Improving the Trans-Canada Highway through the Kicking Horse Canyon is our top transportation priority,” said Kevin Falcon, provincial Minister of Transportation. “We are proceeding with Phase 2 because it will improve the safety and efficiency of this strategic highway that links communities and serves as a major trade and tourism route.”

The federal contribution comes from the $4 billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which supports large-scale projects of major national and regional significance in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians. The provincial contribution is part of the three-year $2.3-billion transportation investment plan.