Historically high investments in transportation

We’ve made countless improvements in transportation since 2001, with nearly $4 billion in capital investments. Over 25,000 lane kilometres of roads have been paved, or the equivalent distance of paving from Vancouver to Halifax over five-and-a-half times. Our plan calls for over $3.3 billion in new investments over the next three years, with 90 per cent of all current projects being built in areas outside of the Lower Mainland. To learn more about the Campbell Government’s transportation projects and plans in every region, visit www.th.gov.bc.ca/projects.htm

Eight years ago, we promised to open up BC with new investments that would open up Canada’s Pacific Gateways in every region. We are delivering on that commitment with the new container Port of Prince Rupert, the new William R. Bennett Bridge across Lake Okanagan, the new Sea-to-Sky Highway, and the new upgraded Simon Fraser Bridge and new multi-modal transportation hub in Prince George. We have made the largest border improvements in BC history and led the way in expediting border flows with enhanced Drivers’ Licenses. We have built or are building, the new Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill By-pass, the new Park Bridge at Kicking Horse Canyon, and major airport expansions in Comox, Terrace-Kitimat, Smithers, Prince George, Cranbrook, Kamloops and Nanaimo.

We eliminated tolls on the Coquihalla Highway, launched the largest public transit plan in BC history, and opened up the North, with the new Sierra Yoyo Desan resource road near Fort Nelson and major new investment in rural and remote roads. Our plan helped BC Ferries upgrade its terminals and deliver three new super-C class ferry vessels, that were delivered on time and under budget.

Some of the priorities for the future include:

• Accelerating four-laning of the Cariboo Connector
• Building the new 10-Lane Port Mann Bridge and the Gateway Project, including the new North and South Fraser Perimeter Roads
• Accelerated improvements to Highways 3, Highway 16, Highway 97, the Pine Pass, and the Trans-Canada Highway from Kamloops to the Alberta border
• Completing the next phase of improvements to the Kicking Horse Canyon
• Expanding the Port of Prince Rupert and Deltaport
• Replacing 26 old ferries over the next 15 years with new state-of-the-art ships
• Delivering the $14 billion provincial transit plan
• Replacing existing railway crossings on Lower Mainland roads with elevated crossings that allow traffic to flow freely