Jasper will be one of four national parks to benefit from a $71 million investment by the Government of Canada.
Announced on January 23, the investment will focus on critical infrastructure, visitor safety and improved visitor experiences, according to Parks Canada.
The projects include $1 million worth of upgrades to Parks Canada’s aging dispatch equipment in Banff and Jasper; $1.7 million of design work on the Snaring and Moberly bridges in JNP; and $11.3 million to rehabilitate a section of the Icefields Parkway near Poboktan Creek.
The Poboktan Creek section requires reconstruction to address a “freeze-thaw resiliency deficit” and “improve geohazard mitigations,” a statement said. The Snaring and Moberly bridge design work is to be completed in the winter of 2023 to inform future work requirements.
Also pegged for upgrades is critical infrastructure in Lake Louise: planned is a $11.6 million water and sewer infrastructure project.
Parks Canada will also focus on roadway rehabilitation and modernization, as well as several bridge improvements. The government has put aside $9.8 million for a redesign on Lake Louise Drive which will accommodate transit infrastructure, private vehicles and cyclists to safely move visitors to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
The investment is part of the Government of Canada’s recently announced funding of $557 million over three years to ensure the continuation of infrastructure projects and maintenance work for Parks Canada’s assets.
Also on the book is $10.4 for Highway 93 South roadway renovations; Trans-Canada highway rehabilitation in Yoho National Park (worth $9 million); and slope stabilization, repaving and the removal of an old Parks Canada kiosk island where Highway 11 joins the Icefields Parkway. This $4.3 million project is expect to start in 2023.
“Robust roadway improvements through the iconic mountain national parks will provide safer traveling experiences for Canadians,”said Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Environment said.
Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
