Cariboo Connector ProgramA Long-term vision to expand Highway 97 between Cache Creek and Prince George to four lanes

This project is part of the Ministry of Transportation's This project is part of the Ministry of Transportation's Cariboo Connector Program Cariboo Connector Program –– Phase OnePhase One

Please feel free to view Please feel free to view the following information the following information by using the arrow keys by using the arrow keys

Questions? DonQuestions? Don’’t hesitate to ask a Ministry t hesitate to ask a Ministry representativerepresentative

NEXT SLIDE

PREVIOUS SLIDE

APPROXIMATE VIEWING TIME: 10 MINUTES

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

What is the Cariboo What is the Cariboo Connector?Connector?

Program PurposeProgram Purpose

Delivery StrategyDelivery Strategy

Phase One ProjectsPhase One Projects

Program Level Program Level ActivitiesActivities

What is the Cariboo Connector?What is the Cariboo Connector?

The Cariboo Connector is not a project The Cariboo Connector is not a project …… itit’’s a s a ProgramProgram

ItIt’’s a longs a long--term vision to expand Highway 97 term vision to expand Highway 97 between Cache Creek and Prince George to four between Cache Creek and Prince George to four Lanes over an extended timeframeLanes over an extended timeframe

Projects on Highway 97 are prioritized on their own Projects on Highway 97 are prioritized on their own merit, and are consistent with the longmerit, and are consistent with the long--term visionterm vision

Program Program PurposePurposeThe provincial economy The provincial economy is doing well, due in large is doing well, due in large part to northern activity part to northern activity in the following sectors:in the following sectors:

Oil and GasOil and GasForestryForestryMiningMiningTourismTourismManufacturing & TradeManufacturing & Trade

Cariboo Connector ProgramA Long-term vision to expand Highway 97 between Cache Creek and Prince George to four lanes

The expanding northern The expanding northern economy makes our economy makes our

region more dependent on region more dependent on the Cariboo Connector to the Cariboo Connector to

move people and goodsmove people and goods

Growing volumes of heavy Growing volumes of heavy industrial traffic and RVindustrial traffic and RV’’s s

are driving the need for are driving the need for additional lanes to additional lanes to maintain speed & maintain speed &

efficiencyefficiency

Critical Provincial LinkCritical Provincial LinkHighway 97:Highway 97:The Cariboo ConnectorThe Cariboo Connector

•• is the only transis the only trans--provincial, northprovincial, north--south south highwayhighway

•• is the key link between is the key link between Northern BC and the Northern BC and the rest of the provincerest of the province

•• connects the rest of BC connects the rest of BC to Highway 16 and the to Highway 16 and the Port Of Prince RupertPort Of Prince Rupert

The Cariboo Connector Is The Cariboo Connector Is Building OpportunityBuilding Opportunity

Future northern economic growth will Future northern economic growth will require diversificationrequire diversification

By 2013 the Pine Beetle epidemic will By 2013 the Pine Beetle epidemic will have major economic impact on have major economic impact on communitiescommunities

An improved transportation network will An improved transportation network will attract more manufacturing and tourismattract more manufacturing and tourism

AsiaAsia--Pacific growth provides opportunity Pacific growth provides opportunity for transportation as an industryfor transportation as an industry

Investments in the Port Of Prince Rupert Investments in the Port Of Prince Rupert will provide opportunities for container will provide opportunities for container sorting facilitiessorting facilities

Program Delivery StrategyProgram Delivery Strategy$200$200--million allotted to Phase Onemillion allotted to Phase One

Phase One is now underway, and will continue for Phase One is now underway, and will continue for the next five yearsthe next five years

The current focus is on congested sections near The current focus is on congested sections near communities, and on identified safety issuescommunities, and on identified safety issues

Projects previously in development have been Projects previously in development have been upgraded to include fourupgraded to include four--laninglaning

For example, if a passing lane was originally planned, that sectFor example, if a passing lane was originally planned, that section ion will now be fourwill now be four--lanedlaned

Phase One Phase One ProjectsProjects

Simon Fraser Bridge to Sintich RdSimon Fraser Bridge to Sintich Rd

Old Cariboo Highway to Red RockOld Cariboo Highway to Red Rock

PlettPlett Road, south of StonerRoad, south of Stoner

Quesnel to Dog Prairie Rd Quesnel to Dog Prairie Rd

Lexington Road to 148 Mile Lexington Road to 148 Mile

FletcherFletcher’’s Field, south of Williams s Field, south of Williams LkLk

Wright Station Curves, Lac La Hache Wright Station Curves, Lac La Hache

Horse Lake Road, 100 Mile HouseHorse Lake Road, 100 Mile House

CargyleCargyle CurvesCurves

Cache Creek to Highway 99Cache Creek to Highway 99

Simon Fraser Bridge to Sintich RoadSimon Fraser Bridge to Sintich RoadNew twoNew two--lane bridge northboundlane bridge northboundRehabilitate existing 2Rehabilitate existing 2--lane bridge lane bridge southboundsouthboundReconstruct Queensway Reconstruct Queensway InterchangeInterchange44--lane Highway 97 to Sintich Roadlane Highway 97 to Sintich RoadDesignDesign--Build contract deliveryBuild contract deliveryActivities this year:Activities this year:

Stakeholder ConsultationStakeholder ConsultationDetermine Property RequirementsDetermine Property RequirementsUndertake Engineering WorkUndertake Engineering WorkBegin Procurement ProcessBegin Procurement Process

Completion: 2009Completion: 2009

Old Cariboo Highway to Red RockOld Cariboo Highway to Red RockNew, stateNew, state--ofof--the art Weigh the art Weigh Scale facilityScale facilityThree km of fourThree km of four--laning laning adjoining the scaleadjoining the scalePublic input requested for Public input requested for site evaluationsite evaluationActivities this year:Activities this year:

Public and stakeholder Public and stakeholder consultationconsultationEvaluation of four potential sitesEvaluation of four potential sitesDesign work and cost estimatingDesign work and cost estimatingSite selectionSite selection

Completion 2007Completion 2007

Plett Road, South Of StonerPlett Road, South Of Stoner35 km south of Prince George35 km south of Prince George

ThreeThree--km sectionkm section

Capacity increasing to four Capacity increasing to four laneslanes

Contract awarded to Contract awarded to Integrated Contractors Ltd.Integrated Contractors Ltd.

Completion 2006Completion 2006

Quesnel to Dog Prairie RoadQuesnel to Dog Prairie RoadFunctional design Functional design underway from existing underway from existing fourfour--lane section to Dog lane section to Dog Prairie Road Prairie Road

Functional design will Functional design will identify construction identify construction prioritypriority

Project tendered 2008Project tendered 2008Completion 2009Completion 2009

Lexington Road to Likely RoadLexington Road to Likely RoadBetween Williams Lake and 150 MileBetween Williams Lake and 150 Mile

Capacity increasing to four lanesCapacity increasing to four lanes

Intersection improvementsIntersection improvements

Design assignment underwayDesign assignment underway

One intersection built in 2006One intersection built in 2006

Rest of construction to begin within Rest of construction to begin within five yearsfive years

Completion in 2011Completion in 2011

FletcherFletcher’’s Fields FieldSouth of Williams LakeSouth of Williams Lake

TwoTwo--kilometre sectionkilometre section

Capacity increasing to Capacity increasing to four lanesfour lanes

Contract awarded to Contract awarded to PeterPeter’’s Bros.s Bros.

Construction Construction underwayunderway

Completion this fallCompletion this fall

Horse Lake RoadHorse Lake Road100 Mile House100 Mile House

Intersection improvement Intersection improvement projectproject

Design underwayDesign underway

CostCost--shared with District shared with District of 100 Mile Houseof 100 Mile House

Completion fall 2007Completion fall 2007

Wright Station Curves near Wright Station Curves near Lac La HacheLac La Hache

17 km north of 17 km north of Lac La HacheLac La Hache

Poor safety historyPoor safety history

Capacity increasing Capacity increasing to four lanesto four lanes

Alignment Alignment improvementsimprovements

Engineering Engineering underwayunderway

Currently planning Currently planning delivery timingdelivery timing

Improve alignmentImprove alignmentIncrease capacity to four lanesIncrease capacity to four lanesDesign to begin in 2007Design to begin in 2007Construction in 2008Construction in 2008

Cargyle Curves South of ClintonCargyle Curves South of Clinton

Cache Creek to Highway 99Cache Creek to Highway 99

Extensive consultation Extensive consultation required with required with stakeholders, including stakeholders, including the Bonaparte Bandthe Bonaparte Band

Delivery timelines to Delivery timelines to evolve through evolve through consultation consultation

Program Activities AheadProgram Activities Ahead

Stakeholder consultationStakeholder consultation

Corridor planningCorridor planning

Establish priorities for future Establish priorities for future phasesphases

Provide options to Provide options to government for future government for future investment levelsinvestment levels

Cariboo Connector ProgramA Long-term vision to expand Highway 97 between Cache Creek and Prince George to four lanes

Thank you for your interest!Thank you for your interest!