July 23, 2010
Keeping People Working - St. Mary's Wycliffe Bridge Rehab Moves Ahead

CRANBROOK – The St. Mary’s Wycliffe Bridge Rehabilitation project, northwest of Cranbrook, is moving forward with today’s announcement of a $1.8 million contract that will improve reliability and safety of the bridge, while keeping people working.

"I'm pleased that in my constituency, this project will not only strengthen infrastructure but also the economy, through job creation, providing immediate economic stimulus and support for the East Kootenay economy at a time when it's most needed," says Kootenay-Columbia MP Jim Abbott.

“Thanks to the tremendous relationship we have with the federal government, Kootenay communities continue to see ongoing benefits through rehabilitated road and bridges,” says Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett. “But the greatest benefit is the family-supporting jobs these projects provide.”

St. Mary’s Wycliffe Bridge, a 126 metre long timber structure built in the early 1930’s, has been load restricted due to the deterioration of some of its timber components.   With the new timber components the bridge load limit will be restored to a 36 tonne capacity which will improve reliability and safety, and extend the life of the structure.

The federal contribution to this project comes from the $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects. Since March 2009, almost 400 projects have received a total federal investment of over $500 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across British Columbia.

Since October 2008, over $5.3 billion has been committed for accelerated capital projects across British Columbia, which is estimated to generate more than 34,000 construction jobs over the life of the projects.

Visit Jim’s website at www.jimabbott.ca

Visit Bill’s website at www.billbennettmla.bc.ca

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