CHILLIWACK B.C. - The City of Chilliwack and Squiala First Nation have reached a Partnership Agreement in principle to begin construction of the Evans Road Connector Project, announced Chilliwack Mayor Clint Hames today. The agreement marks the beginning of a significant partnership between the City and the Squiala First Nation to build a connector that will link the Evans Parkway to the south, with Ashwell Road to the north.

The project preliminary works are to begin in spring 2008, with construction commencing in early summer and completion in 2009. The project budget is $40,500,000 ($19,500,000 for the interchange and $21,000,000 for the connector road), including a grant from the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and a contribution from the B.C. Ministry of Transportation. In addition to the connector, the project will provide the underground services necessary for the development of approximately 100 acres of First Nation land.

“We are excited to see this project come to fruition. It will improve access, reduce congestion and provide significant economic development opportunities for our community”, said Mayor Hames.

The project has been planned in consultation with Squiala First Nation, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, and the Ministry of Environment.  The design-build team of Martens Asphalt Ltd and McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd have been selected to build the project. The Squiala First Nation has been working with consultants to establish a plan for the development of lands that will be accessible once the connector road is complete.

The Evans Road Connector Project will link important community nodes, such as the Vedder and Sardis neighbourhoods to the south, with the Chilliwack neighbourhoods and Downtown area in the north. It will reduce congestion on existing interchanges and provide an excellent link to the Canada Education Park. It also will be an ideal corridor for pedestrians, cyclists and improved transit.

“Our community is pleased with the agreement with the City of Chilliwack and the opportunities the project offers for us to develop commercial activities that showcase our traditions”, said Squiala Chief Sam Jimmie.
 
For more information, please visit the City’s web site at www.chilliwack.com/evans.

- 30 -

For more information:
Clint Hames, Mayor
604-793-2900 or
hames@chilliwack.com

----------------------------------------------

Evans Road Connector Project
Backgrounder

The Evans Road Connector/Interchange is a key building block in Chilliwack’s long-term transportation plan. The Connector and Interchange will initially form a two-lane arterial (with turn lanes at intersections) linking Evans Parkway to the south, with Ashwell Road to the north - a distance of approximately 2.5 km. The roadway and Overpass will be constructed to accommodate future expansion to 5 lanes.

Construction is to begin in spring 2008, with completion in 2009. The project budget is $40,500,000, including a grant from the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and a contribution from the B.C. Ministry of Transportation.

The Connector will link areas, such as the Vedder and Sardis neighbourhoods to the south, with the Chilliwack neighbourhood, and Downtown area to the north. It will be an ideal corridor for pedestrians, cyclists and improved public transit. It will also support the future growth of the University College of the Fraser Valley on an 85-acre site at the south end of Evans Road.

The Evans Road Connector will be constructed through the Squiala Indian Reserve No. 7. The City of Chilliwack and the Squiala First Nation have negotiated a right of way agreement to allow the new road to pass through Squiala lands. The Connector, plus Trans-Canada Highway off-ramps to the new Overpass, will open up a wide range of development initiatives for the Squiala Band. The right of way agreement also provides for the installation of underground utility services, opening up 100 acres of First Nation land for development.

The benefits of the Evans Road Connector/Interchange project include the following:

• Arterial road access to previously inaccessible lands, including Squiala First Nation lands, to enable development;
• Improved access for Chilliwack residents to employment, recreation, culture and commercial services;
• Reduced delays, reduced travel times, reduced congestion,  improved safety and faster emergency response times ;
• Improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle network and opportunities for better transit service coverage; and
• Improved access to the TransCanada Highway. The overpass will allow for a west bound on-ramp and an east bound off-ramp. This will also help to relieve congestion from the Lickman Road overpass and the Yale/Vedder corridor.

To deliver the project, the City has selected a design/build team led by Martens Asphalt Ltd (Chilliwack) and McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd (Surrey). Environmental and archeological assessments are underway, and the project schedule anticipates environmental approval in spring 2008. A detailed design is also to be complete in spring 2008, followed by the launch of construction.

The Connector will be designated as a municipal arterial road with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h.