By Barb Brouwer, Black Press
A project to address the site of many accidents on the Trans-Canada Highway is moving forward.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) announced Friday that replacement of the Malakwa Bridge is going out to tender.
Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo said the province will ante up $22 million and now the federal government has agreed to contribute another $13 million, the project to four-lane the highway and bridge deck can move forward.
“Provided it comes within the budget envelope, the anticipation is a contract will be awarded, with construction starting sometime this year and with completion in 2015,” said Kyllo.
The project some 30 kilometres east of Sicamous would involve widening 2.3 kilometres of the highway to four lanes and would include a paved median with a 2.6-metre-wide barrier.
Last summer, MOTI revealed plans to replace the bridge as part of the B.C. government’s commitment to four-lane the Trans-Canada between Kamloops and the Alberta border.
During an open house, it was noted 30 collisions occurred on the Malakwa bridge between 2002 and 2011. Two of those were fatalities, while 12 resulted in injury and 16 in property damage only.
“I think it’s fantastic considering the number of traffic accidents as well as closures,” says Kyllo. “Anything we can do to improve traffic flows and make the road safer is a step in the right direction.”
