VAA and Government Partnerships to build McTavish Road Interchange

NORTH SAANICH - Travellers and residents of the Capital Region will benefit from $24 million in joint federal, provincial and Victoria Airport Authority funding to construct an interchange at McTavish Road and Highway 17 near the Victoria Airport, announced today by MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands Gary Lunn and MLA for Saanich North and the Islands Murray Coell. 

The project will be cost shared between the Province ($10.5 million), the federal government ($10.5 million) and the Victoria Airport Authority ($3 million). This project will improve road safety and transportation efficiency for motorists travelling along Highway 17. Construction is slated to begin in November 2009 and finish in March 2011.

"This project will provide a major upgrade to a key intersection in the area - McTavish Road is a vital access point for both airport and ferry travellers, as well as local residents," said Lunn. "Improving safety and traffic flow here will benefit the entire region for years to come."

"This government is committed to improving transportation infrastructure in rural and urban areas across the province," said Coell.  "As the Victoria Airport grows, so does the need for increased investments in traffic safety and this project recognizes that need and will fund needed safety measures at Hwy 17 and McTavish Road. We know that every job counts and this project is expected to create more than 150 jobs, at a time when the need for economic stimulus is greatest."

"The Victoria Airport Authority is very pleased to join with our federal and provincial governments by helping to fund a project that will solve the safety and congestion problems at this critical intersection," said Richard Paquette, president and CEO of the Victoria Airport Authority. 

This project is part of the $290-million infrastructure investment, recently announced by the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C.

The Provincial portion of the funding comes from an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

The Federal portion of the funding comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to provide funding to provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure projects. Funding will be available for two years for projects that will begin during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons. This initiative is structured to flow funding and get shovels in the ground quickly.

Media Contact: 
Jeff Knight
Communications Manager
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-7707

Logan Wenham
Office of Gary Lunn, MP
250 656-2320

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province's news feeds using RSS, visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca.

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