KAMLOOPS — The province is providing funding for a number of infrastructure projects in Kamloops and the Thompson Nicola Regional District Wednesday.
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone made the announcements in Kamloops Wednesday.
The investments include around $6 million for clean water and wastewater system grants in Kamloops and the TNRD.
Approximately $2.2 million is dedicated to the Juniper Creek bank stability project.
“That’s a key priority that the city has identified with respect to their water system,” Stone said. “We will also see investments of about $2 million in Clearwater on their water system, about $2 million on upgrading the sewage system in Sun Peaks, which is critically needed. That’s now the fastest growing resort municipality not just in B.C., but across the country, so we’ve got to make sure their infrastructure keeps up to pace. And there will be investments in other communities like Pritchard as well.”
Stone also announced the addition of 19 compressed natural gas (CNG) powered buses to the Kamloops fleet. The new buses will round out a 44-bus fully CNG fleet.
$1 million in BikeBC funding was also announced for the Peterson Creek Multi-Use Pathway.
Mayor Peter Milobar said the funding will allow the city to move forward on the project more quickly.
“We were about that $1 million short in terms of being able to start this year,” Milobar said. “If we had not received that funding we probably would have been about three years more to go before we would have had enough money saved up to start the project. So that will see that project start right away.”
Project Manager Liam Baker said the city is currently working on finalizing some detail design and acquiring permits.
“Once that’s finalized we’ll be able to go to tender likely later in May or June, and then construct the project through the summer, and have it in operation by the fall,” Baker said.
