The City of Castlegar has received a grant for $3.21 million from the Build Canada Small Communities Fund for the rehabilitation of Columbia Avenue from 17th Street to 11th Street.
The grant is one of 26 announced by the government this week for infrastructure projects across the province. The funding formula for the grants divides the project’s costs evenly between the provincial government, the federal government and the municipality with each party covering one-third of the cost.
“We are very excited to undertake such a large replacement of core infrastructure,” says Mayor Lawrence Chernoff. “This grant from the province and from the federal government will provide two-thirds funding for a much-needed upgrade to Columbia Avenue and its underground infrastructure. The funding from the province and the federal governments is a huge benefit to Castlegar taxpayers and demonstrates strong support for the direction of Castlegar’s infrastructure renewal program.”
The total cost for the Castlegar project is $4.8 million. Each party will be contributing $1.6 million.
“When public infrastructure in many of our smaller communities is in need of repair or upgrade, the high costs associated are often difficult for a community alone to bear,” said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “However, when senior levels of government act together, we can facilitate these important infrastructure improvements and build stronger communities throughout B.C.”
A public information meeting will be held in April for the public to review the scope of the project. The city plans to have construction complete by 2018.
Highlights of the project include rebuilding the surface and underground infrastructure on Columbia Avenue.