The B.C. government is investing $6 million to resurface Highway 3 between Hope and Nicolum Creek Bridge.
Funding for the project was announced Tuesday morning at a Hope & District Chamber of Commerce meeting by Advanced Education Minister Naomi Yamamoto, on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom.
"We know this work will greatly improve the ride and safety along this section of Highway 3," she said. "The project announced today and future investments in key corridors, like Hope, throughout the province will keep B.C. competitive and provide jobs for B.C. families."
Yamamoto pointed out the new road rehabilitation project helps fulfill the objectives of the Canada Starts Here B.C. Jobs Plan.
"The first pillar is to ensure that we seize our advantages as Canada's gateway to the Pacific. We need to ensure that we expand the markets for our products and goods, particularly in mid-Asia where we know demand for our products is great," she explained.
"The second pillar is to strengthen our infrastructure to get our goods to market and that's exactly what this project will do. The third pillar is to work with our employers in communities to ensure that we enable job creation."
The project will be broken up into two sections of work. The first is located along Highway 3, from the Hope overpass through the Othello interchange to Nicolum Creek Bridge along Highway 5. This section is 6.6 kilometres long.
The second section will be the resurfacing of the slow lane along Highway 3 between the Othello interchange and Nicolum Creek Bridge, a distance of 4.8 km.
The project goes to tender this spring, with work to be completed during the summer. It is estimated that about 30 jobs will be created over the life of the project.
"I think any improvement of infrastructure in my area is a good thing," said Dennis Adamson, director of Area B.
"I think there's a tremendous opportunity to increase employment by improving existing infrastructure. I do hope it's just the beginning because the roads all throughout the area and the Fraser Canyon are in rough shape."
The new project builds on recent highway improvements in the region, including resurfacing of Highway 1 near Bridal Falls, the $7.2-million project to replace two bridges over Cedar Creek, and the addition of a left turn lane into Lake of the Woods Rest Area on Highway 1.
Since 2001, the province has invested over $270 million to resurface, improve and maintain highways in the Hope area.