Work is scheduled to start this spring along the Trans-Canada Highway between Glacier National Park and Golden to replace the bridge crossing at Quartz Creek.
The tender has been issued for the Quartz Creek Bridge project to replace the aging two-lane bridge crossing at Quartz Creek, 40 km west of Golden, with a new four-lane bridge. This portion of the Highway 1 Kamloops-to-Alberta program also includes widening 4.4 km of two-lane highway to four lanes and access improvements to forest service roads in the area.
“It is important to see this project move a step closer to getting under way,” said Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “Replacing the Quartz Creek Bridge and widening this part of the Trans-Canada Highway will improve driver safety while supporting trade and a strong regional economy. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities.”
Construction is anticipated to begin this spring. Once complete, this project will improve safety, reliability and mobility for people using this section of Highway 1, including commercial truck drivers carrying goods.
“The Quartz Creek Bridge project will upgrade the reliability of the highway by improving safety and reducing incidents for people travelling in the region and benefiting businesses moving goods along this important trade corridor,” said Rob Fleming, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “This project also brings good-paying jobs and the opportunity for local workers to be hired through the Community Benefits Agreement.”
The Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) is designed to maximize opportunities to develop and grow the skilled labour workforce in the province. The CBA prioritizes hiring and re-hiring local workers, Indigenous peoples, women, people with disabilities and members of other under-represented groups who are qualified to do the work in a safe, welcoming environment. It increases opportunities for apprentices to work on site and gain the experience they need to move toward completing their certification.
The B.C. government has committed $1.04 billion to upgrading Highway 1 between Kamloops and the Alberta border over the next three years under Budget 2020.
The total budget for the Quartz Creek Bridge project is approximately $123.7 million with the Government of Canada contributing up to $49.9 million through the New Building Canada Fund-Provincial Territorial Infrastructure Component-National and Regional Projects, while the Province of B.C. is providing $73.8 million.
For further information on job opportunities for the Quartz Creek Bridge project, click here.
