Kamloops company awarded $25.9M Trans-Canada Highway project

A Kamloops firm has been awarded a $25.9 million contract to expand a 3.3 kilometre section of the Trans-Canada Highway near Chase from two to four lanes, according to a provincial news release.

Dawson Civil Limited will prioritize local workers for hire through a Community Benefits Agreement with the province, in addition to Indigenous peoples, women, people with disabilities and qualified individuals from under-represented groups, the province said.

The project is scheduled to start in September and wrap up in the fall of 2022. Traffic disruption updates will be posted by DriveBC during construction.

“This project will help diversify and grow B.C.’s skilled workforce,” Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said in the release. “Apprentices will also get the opportunity to work on site and gain the experience they need to launch life-long careers.”

In addition to adding lanes, the project also includes at-grade protected T-intersections with lighting at both Chase Creek Road and Shuswap Avenue, a pedestrian crossing and multi-use pathway to link the Neskonlith Indian Band and the Village of Chase communities and a cattle underpass.

The existing highway will also be converted to frontage road to consolidate access.

“Now is the right time to build infrastructure that hires local workers and improves our communities who are struggling with the impacts of COVID-19,” Trevena said.

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