Trans-Canada Highway, Donald Bridge celebrated

GOLDEN, B.C. – The 50th anniversary of the Trans-Canada Highway and the construction of the new four-lane Donald Bridge was celebrated today by Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and by Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett, representing Mary Polak, British Columbia’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Trans-Canada, our government is proud to recognize a great Canadian achievement – Canada’s longest highway – that connects us together from the Pacific to the Atlantic,” said Minister Lebel. “Completing the Donald Bridge is an excellent example of our work to improve safety, create jobs and promote long-term economic growth in British Columbia and across Canada.”

“The new Donald Bridge is twice as wide as the old bridge, the curves on the approaches are smoother, and combined with three-and-a-half kilometres of new four-laning, this part of the Trans-Canada Highway will be safer for everyone,” said Minister Polak. “The Trans-Canada Highway is a vital link with the rest of Canada, and improving its safety and capacity continues to be a priority for government.”

The Trans-Canada Highway was officially opened on September 3, 1962 by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker at the summit of Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park. Today, a plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Trans-Canada Highway was placed on the original commemorative cairn located on the highway east of Revelstoke. At the ceremony for the new Donald Bridge, a plaque recognizing the project’s workers was unveiled.

The Donald Bridge project is the most significant improvement to the Trans-Canada between Revelstoke and Golden in the last 50 years. The project includes upgrading of 3.5 kilometres of highway approximately 25 kilometres west of Golden from two lanes to four, as well as construction of a new four lane bridge crossing the Columbia River and a new four lane structure over the Canadian Pacific rail line.

These upgrades will improve safety and increase highway capacity for the Revelstoke to Golden segment of the Trans-Canada. The new bridge will be open to traffic in the next few weeks.

The project is valued at $63 million, with the Government of B.C. investing $33 million and the Government of Canada investing up to $30.4 million through the Building Canada Fund, Major Infrastructure Component.

Since 2001, the provincial and federal governments have invested almost $700 million in improvements on the Trans-Canada Highway between Kamloops and the Alberta border.

Addressing critical safety needs, particularly through the Kicking Horse Canyon, has been the priority for work. To date, approximately $329 million has been invested to widen 22 of the 26 kilometres to four lanes. This has cut travel time while reducing the crash rate by one-quarter.