Steamboat to get a facelift:

FORT NELSON – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Minister for Status of Women, today announced that the Harper Government will be undertaking an important capital improvement project on the Alaska Highway in 2013-14.

The Alaska Highway is a critical element of local, regional, provincial, national and international infrastructure, providing benefits to thousands of Canadians and Americans daily,? said Minister Ambrose. ?These upgrades will create local jobs and benefit the regional economy for years to come.?

Our Government is committed to ensuring the safety of its public infrastructure. This investment is part of an ongoing program of work to ensure that the highway is well maintained and continues to provide safe and reliable access to the thousands of Canadians who rely on the Alaska Highway,? said Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River.

The work will involve grade strengthening in the Steamboat Hill area from kilometres 540 to 553, as well as culvert replacements at kilometre 230. Additional minor projects will also be undertaken on other sections of the highway. These projects will include: repairs to the road in the Steamboat Hill area that has deteriorated over the years due to poor drainage, leading to major ruts and potholes; replacing two collapsed culverts at kilometre 230 that are blocking the flow of water; conducting various bridge repairs, such as concrete repairs, guard rail upgrades and erosion repairs; as well as undertaking minor road repairs to address slides and erosion and improve safety.

This investment is part of Canada?s Economic Action Plan, through which the Harper Government announced investments of approximately $250 million in Public Works and Government Services Canada-owned infrastructure projects across the country, for a total of $320 million in funding for these assets. This federal investment is part of ongoing capital repair and maintenance program to ensure that the highway continues to provide safe service to Canadians.

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is responsible for maintaining an 835-kilometre section of the 2,450 kilometre-long Alaska Highway from kilometre 133, north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, to kilometre 968 at the British Columbia/Yukon border. British Columbia is responsible for the first section up to kilometre 133, and Yukon for 935 kilometres in the territory.

PWGSC is committed to a fair, open and transparent tendering process, which will be conducted through the Government Electronic Tendering System (MERX).