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The following two press releases make for interesting reading
- well, at least it's something to do while the overcrowded
SkyTrain and buses pass you by..
Executive summary: $75 million is being spent on new highway
interchanges, and coincidentally $75 million is being cut from
other provincial government departments. This, combined with the
recently announced capital spending freeze and reductions in BC
Transit service despite significant increases in ridership, could
make one wonder exactly where the provincial government's
priorities lie.
Ministry of Transportation and Highways
259/96
November 18, 1996
CONSTRUCTION OF TWO NEW
INTERCHANGES ON THE FRASER RIVER
VICTORIA -- Construction of two new interchanges is starting on the Fraser
River Crossing and Connectors project, Transportation and Highways Minister
Lois Boone announced today.
The interchanges are part of the third phase of the project and will replace the
last remaining traffic signals on the Richmond East/West Freeway.
"Motorists will find their commute greatly improved when they drive through
full interchanges instead of having the flow of traffic regulated by traffic
signals
as they merge from the Alex Fraser Bridge and Queensborough Connector to
the Richmond East/West Freeway," said Boone.
"This work is another important step in improving safety and traffic flow on
these busy transportation routes," she added. "The project adds immensely to
the Lower Mainland's vitally important transportation infrastructure."
The Fraser River Crossings and Connectors project is being completed in
three phases. Work currently under way on the Annacis Channel West Bridge,
which is also part of the third phase, is anticipated to be complete by June
1997.
This recent tender award of $15.9 million, won by Jack Cewe Ltd. of
Coquitlam, who submitted the lowest of five bids, continues work on the third
phase. Construction activities will include foundation excavation and pile
driving, as well as completion of the Hamilton underpass and flyover structures.
The work is scheduled for completion next September.
Phases one and two of the $570-million project included construction of the
Annacis Highway and Alex Fraser Bridge, opened in 1986, and the Richmond
East West Freeway, which opened to traffic in 1989. Phase three will improve
traffic flow along the Richmond East/West Freeway, a popular alternative to
Highways 1 and 99, with the two new interchanges and the Annacis Channel
West Bridge, which connects Highway 91A with the Alex Fraser Bridge.
This phase of the Fraser River Crossing and Connectors project is being
managed by the Ministry of Transportation and Highways on behalf of the BC
Transportation Financing Authority.
The project is exempt from the review of provincial capital expenditures, since
it was legally committed and already under construction when the review was
announced. Like those projects under review, it is debt financed. The minister
of finance announced a freeze on all new capital spending, and ordered a
review of all capital projects with the clear goal of reducing spending and
related debt.
- 30 -
Contact: Betty Nicholson, Public Affairs Branch (250) 387-7788
FRASER RIVER CROSSING AND CONNECTORS PROJECT FACTS
AND FIGURES November 14, 1996
The Fraser River Crossing and Connectors Project, announced in the early
1980s, is a multi-year, multi-million dollar project to enhance traffic flow
between Richmond and Delta and New Westminster.
The project involves 32.5 kilometres of new multi-lane highways, 16
kilometres of new and improved connecting roads, the Alex Fraser Bridge, 37
bridges and overpasses and relocation of 11 kilometres of rail lines.
It is being carried out in three phases:
Phase One -- Construction of the Alex Fraser Bridge, which opened in 1986.
Highway links to Highway 10 and 99, New Westminster and Richmond were
improved and signalized connections at Hamilton and Westminster put in as an
interim measure. Total expenditures: $400 million.
Phase Two -- Construction of the Richmond East-West Freeway. The
freeway opened in 1989. The cost: $100 million.
Phase Three -- Construction of interchanges at Hamilton, Westminster,
Ewen-Boyd, and Queensborough North, along with another bridge across
Annacis Channel. The B.C. Transportation Financing Authority has approved
the replacement of signalized intersections at Hamilton and Westminster with
grade-separated interchanges, and the construction of the Annacis Channel
West Bridge, which will be used by southbound Highway 91 traffic and to
access Annacis at the Cliveden Interchange. Total expenditures: $75 million,
funded through the BCTFA. No approvals have been obtained for the other
two interchanges.
Construction on the Annacis Channel West Bridge began in October 1995 and
is scheduled for completion in the summer of 1997. As of Nov. 14, 1996, it is
75 per cent completed. The bridge is concrete girder design and is being built
by Delta Catalytic of Delta under a $19-million contract. The total length
of the
bridge is 475 metres with a main river span of 70 metres.
Work on the interchanges began in August 1994 with property acquisition and
construction of embankments to compress soil and create a firm foundation for
the roads. The construction was carried out by day labour. Expenditures: $3.4
million.
Property acquisition has involved five residential properties on Westminster
Highway north of Hamilton Interchange, and a portion of BC Packers
Queensborough Yard.
A contract for the building the interchanges has been awarded to Jack Cewe
Ltd. of Coquitlam, whose bid of $15.9 million was the lowest of five tendered.
The project covers four kilometres of Highway 91, one kilometre of Highway
91A and 1.8 kilometres of Westminster Highway. Two new bridges will be
built at Hamilton and 10 kilometres of pipe poles will be installed to support
the bridges, signs and light posts.
Work started on Nov. 12, 1996, and is scheduled for completion in the fall of
1997.
During construction two lanes in each direction on Highway 91 will be
maintained during peak times to ensure uninterrupted flow of traffic.
Once project is completed, commuting time will be improved by up to 20
minutes during peak periods.
It is expected the accident rate on this stretch of the highway will drop as a
result of the free flow of traffic through the interchanges.
Interchanges are required at Ewen-Boyd and Queensborough North at some
future time, but are not part of the currently funded work.
The ministry has worked with: Residents of Delta, Richmond, Hamilton
Community Association Municipalities of Richmond and Delta B.C. Transit,
Fraser River Harbour Commission BC Hydro, BC Gas, BC Tel Greater
Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District, Greater Vancouver Water
District.
For immediate release - - November 12, 1996 - - release number 31/96
VICTORIA -- Crown corporations in B.C. will cut $75 million from overhead,
administration and operations over the next 18 months as part of the
government's financial plan, Finance Minister Andrew Petter announced today.
"Crown corporations will look at vehicle purchases, furniture purchases,
travel, publications, communications, contracts, and management perks,"
said Petter. "Efficiency targets up to 15 per cent of overhead and
administration budgets have been set.
"We are telling Crown corporations the same thing we told government
ministries -- you will have to be more efficient and run your operations
with less overhead and less administration," said Petter. "Crown
corporations may also have to look at reducing duplication by
consolidating some of their functions, such as property management and
purchasing."
Petter also noted that the Crowns have been directed to explore and
pursue strategic partnerships with the private sector that demonstrate
a cost-effective way of providing service to the public. Previous
examples include the selling of the Victoria Line ferry and the development
of independent power projects.
"In addition, we are continuing our freeze on salaries over $100,000 and
imposing tighter controls on business expenses."
Today's announcement follows Petter's speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade
on Nov. 6, where he indicated that government subsidies to business were being
cut by $5.8 million this year and $27 million in 1997/98. Additional cuts to
business subsidies will be reviewed in the future. These reductions flow from
the plan announced by Premier Glen Clark to cut $750 million in government
spending in order to protect medicare and education.
Crown corporations under review include B.C. Assessment Authority, B.C.
Buildings Corp., B.C. Ferries, B.C. Hydro, B.C. Lottery Corporation, B.C.
Pavilion Corporation, B.C. Rail, B.C. Transportation Financing Authority,
B.C. Transit, and ICBC.
"We're reducing the size and cost of government to protect medicare and
education for British Columbians," he said. "In the coming weeks we'll be
providing further details on efficiency improvements and cuts in the
individual corporations."
David Bantle
James Strickland
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