News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

The City of Williams Lake was advised today by MP Dick Harris that it will receive $3.5 million each from the Federal and Provincial governments to rehabilitate the entire length of Mackenzie Avenue from Highway 20 to Highway 97. The City will also be required to contribute $3.5 million to the project.

"This is the highest priority capital project for the City at this time and we are extremely pleased to have received this funding during such challenging economic times for the City." states Mayor Kerry Cook. Mackenzie Avenue has experienced significant rutting over the years due to the high volume of heavy industrial traffic such as logging trucks and chip trucks. The rutting causes pooling of water in rain events and makes it difficult to effectively remove snow and ice from the road during the winter months.

According to Councilor Surinderpal Rathor, Public Works Portfolio Chair, "The City will be investigating the use of alternative surfacing options such as concrete or other durable materials to ensure the rutting does not occur in the future. It would be a shame to spend money to rehabilitate the road, only to have to do it again in a few years." The use of concrete has proved to be highly effective in the south bound left turn lanes at the "Y" intersection, which had previously experienced severe rutting from truck traffic.

The City has recently contracted a consulting firm to complete feasibility and design work for the Mackenzie Avenue Project, utilizing funds it received from Western Economic Diversification. Once the planning is complete and firm cost estimates can be established, City Council will initiate a borrowing approval process for the City’s share of the cost. It is anticipated that if borrowing is approved by the electorate, construction could begin late spring or summer of 2010.

Federal and Provincial funding for this project are being provided by the $12 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund which was introduced in 2009 as part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

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