Calgary, AB - Albertans will benefit from joint federal and provincial funding of up to $13 million to upgrade Highway 2 (Deerfoot Trail) from north of McKnight Boulevard to south of the City of Calgary’s Northern City Limit, announced the Honorable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Minister Responsible for Southern Alberta along with provinicial colleagues Dr. Neil Brown, MLA for Calgary-Nosehill and Teresa Woo-Paw, MLA for Calgary-Mackay.
“Efficient, safe and dependable transportation infrastructure in Calgary is a priority to the Government of Canada,” said Minister Prentice. “Our government has made a number of strategic infrastructure investments in both Alberta and Calgary that not only have created jobs, but will allow us to thrive in the future,”
The project will improve transportation efficiency and create local jobs, at a time when the need for economic stimulus is greatest. The government of Canada will invest up to $4,307,000 in the project. The Province of Alberta will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $8,615,000. Construction work on the eight kilometres of repaving in the southbound lanes of Highway 2 (Deerfoot Trail) is scheduled to be completed by fall 2010.
“I am pleased that the citizens of Beddington Heights, Huntington Hills, and others will benefit from this cooperative project between Alberta and our federal counterparts,” said Dr. Neil Brown, MLA for Calgary – Nose Hill. “This project will improve traffic flow and safety for people in my riding and the surrounding areas.”
“Highway 2 is a vital transportation artery for Calgarians – especially for the border communities of Coventry Hills and Harvest Hills,” said Teresa Woo-Paw, MLA for Calgary-Mackay. “This project is yet another example of the governments of Canada and Alberta working together to improve infrastructure while creating jobs.”
This project is just one example of the commitment of both governments to strengthening the Alberta economy by reducing red tape, creating jobs for Albertans, and getting shovels in the ground sooner.
The project is one of 62 projects across the province that will break ground quickly thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of more than $132 million. Together with municipal and other contributions, the total investment in local infrastructure improvements in Alberta for the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund exceeds $870 million. The governments of Canada and Alberta have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in Alberta communities in the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.
Central to Alberta’s Budget 2009 is Alberta’s Capital Plan, which supports $7.2 billion in 2009-10 and a record $23.2 billion over three years to build roads, health care facilities, schools and other public infrastructure. This year’s investment alone supports approximately 80,000 jobs across the economy directly benefitting Albertans and Alberta communities. This capital investment complements the government’s four-point plan for economic recovery, which calls for keeping an eye on spending, using savings to protect programs and services for Albertans while keeping taxes low, continuing to invest in infrastructure, and promoting the province on the world stage.
Backgrounder
CANADA AND ALBERTA SUPPORT HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government has established a new $4‑billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF) that provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects. Funding is available for two years for projects that will be built during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.
The total cost of the highway improvements is estimated at $107.5 million. Through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Government of Canada is setting aside up to $51.3 million and the Government of Alberta is setting aside up to $53.7 million. An additional $2.4 million is being provided by other sources of funding.
This comes on top of the up to $63.6 million in stimulus funding previously announced for early transit projects in Calgary and Edmonton, and the up to $15 million for Canada’s Sport Hall of Fame to be built in Calgary. The latest projects to be funded under the ISF will see major improvements to highways throughout the province, including:
Highway 2
- repaving 8 km of the southbound lanes of Deerfoot Trail from north of McKnight Boulevard to south of the City of Calgary’s Northern City Limit
- improvements to 32nd Avenue near Deerfoot right-of-way
- reconstruction and widening of 1.6 km from Beddington Trail to 64th Avenue
- improvements and upgrades to Glenmore Trail at the Hwy 2 interchange
- bridge twinning at 196th Avenue
Hwy 9
- paving of 13.5 km from east of Hwy 836 to east of Hwy 840
Hwy 11A
- upgrades to Diamond Conversion interchange to improve traffic safety
Hwy 43X
- upgrades to 6.7 km of highway and service roads from 116 Street (R.R. #63) to Hwy 2 and Hwy 43 intersection north of Grande Prairie
Hwy 58
- 13.7 km of grade widening and repaving east of Chinchaga River to Sixth Meridian
- 15.7 km of grade widening and repaving within right-of-way from south of Negus River to west of High Level, including the bridge culvert
- 23.3 km of grading work to Garden River Road from east of the Wentzel River to the Wood Buffalo Park Boundary to convert Garden River Road to Hwy 58
Federal financial support for these infrastructure improvement projects is conditional on meeting all applicable federal eligibility and approval requirements for infrastructure funding and the signing of appropriate contribution agreements.
