Work on the 148 Mile to Likely Road project will continue this construction season with completion in the fall of 2012, says the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The highway project commenced in May 2010, but fell behind schedule, requiring a shutdown for the winter.
“The ministry continues to closely monitor the contractor’s performance against the schedule,” a ministry spokesperson told the Tribune, adding the contractor has been issued financial penalties for not meeting the September 2011 contract completion date.
However, quality will not be compromised, the ministry insists.
The highway project is the last of 18 projects to be completed under Phase 1 of the Cariboo Connector expansion and is not part of the recently announced funding of $200 million over five years for Phase 2 of the Cariboo Connector, which will add another 30 kilometres of four laning to the corridor.
LIberal MLA Donna Barnett says the project’s delay is one of those things that happens from time to time.
“I do know that I want to personally thank the ministry and the public for their patience. People have been great. I drive up and down that highway all the time and people are cautious and obeying the speed limit and taking extra care,” Barnett says. “There’s no excuse for this, other than the contractor did not fulfill his contract. Everyone is concerned and upset, but it will be completed.”