PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The province of B.C. is moving ahead with its Prince George South Weigh Scale relocation project, thanks to new funds from the feds’ Building Canada Plan.

An injection of $11.3 million from the feds will help the project along, the province announced this month.

“The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the safety and efficiency of transportation routes,” said federal Secretary of State, Jay Hill. “The relocation of the inspection station will help ease congestion and pressure on Highway 97 outside of Prince George, and will contribute to the faster and safer flow of local, tourist and trade traffic. As part of Building Canada, we are investing in infrastructure priorities to increase community safety, help our growing economy, and protect our environment.”

“Relocating the weigh scales and inspection facility is an important project along the Cariboo corridor and part of our government’s overall commitment to revitalize B.C.’s highways, bridges, ports and airports,” added Prince George MLA, Shirley Bond.

As part of the project, a five-kilometre stretch of Hwy. 97 will be expanded from two lanes to four. The commercial vehicle inspection station in the area will also be relocated near Red Rock Road, 20 km south of Prince George. The province said truckers will experience shorter wait periods while going through the scales once it is relocated. The relocation will get underway this spring and should be completed by 2009.

“Today’s announcement has been eagerly anticipated by the trucking industry, our motorists who regularly frequent this portion of Highway 97 and our Ministry of Transportation staff, who have been working on the project details the past few years,” said local politician, John Rustad.