MISSION – Highway 11 will receive $1.5 million in upgrades thanks to federal and provincial infrastructure funding, announced today by Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission MP Randy Kamp, Abbotsford MP Ed Fast, Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton and Abbotsford-Mission MLA Randy Hawes.

The governments of Canada and British Columbia will each invest up to $750,000 in this project which will increase the side-railing height along the bridge.

"The Government of Canada is committed to getting shovels in the ground, stimulating the economy and creating jobs for British Columbians," says  Kamp. “Working together with all levels of government, we can build the infrastructure that will help the economy to thrive now and in the future.”

“As our community expands we need to address these types of transportation safety issues,” says Fast. “This is a heavily used bridge for travel between Mission and Abbotsford and this upgrade will provide a much safer commuter corridor for residents.”

“This stimulus project builds on the many upgrades to the bridge that this government has worked on over the last few years,” says Dalton. “Now cyclists and pedestrians will have a much safer trip along the Mission Bridge which will hopefully encourage even more people to choose alternate modes of transportation.”

“We have one of the most expansive and accessible network of bridges in the province,” says Hawes. “When we can invest in a new project on these roadways we are also creating new jobs.”

This project is one of 27 across the province that will break ground thanks to close to $180 million in joint federal and provincial funding. The Governments of Canada and British Columbia have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects starting in the 2009 construction season.

The projects are funded under the Province’s three-year, $14-billion capital infrastructure program, which will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C. To date, over $4.1 billion has already been announced for projects across British Columbia, which will create an estimated 26,000 jobs

For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca. The website www.creatingjobs.gc.ca has more information on federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia.