Two Langley Township intersections have been upgraded with funds from federal gas taxes.
The first two projects using federal Gas Tax Fund contributions were at 56th Avenue and 248th Street, and 208th Street and 40th Avenue.
The 56th Avenue project was upgraded from a four-way stop to a traffic signal, and left turn bays and raised sidewalk extensions were installed on the corners.
A storm sewer upgrade was included in the project, which took place in the spring and summer.
The federal government contributed $169,806 to the $678,307 project, with the Township paying for the remainder.
The other project, at 208th Street, was built from September to November and included widening the intersection to add four left turn lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks, and refuges on all four corners. Pedestrian signal push butons were replaced to add sound output for blind and visually impaired pedestrians, and more street lights were added.
The $789,376 project was substantially completed in November. The Government of Canada contributed $379,961 to the project through the federal Gas Tax Fund. A further $57,000 came from an ICBC Grant, while the Township of Langley contributed $352,415.
Each year, the Government of Canada provides over $253 million in indexed funding for local government infrastructure projects across British Columbia through the federal Gas Tax Fund. The funding can be spent on any eligible project the community prioritizes across a broad range of eligible project categories, or it can be pooled with other communities for regional projects, banked for later priorities or used to pay for financed projects.
The Union of BC Municipalities administers the federal Gas Tax Fund in British Columbia in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
“In the past, 100 per cent of the federal Gas Tax went to TransLink for regional transportation improvements,” said Township Mayor Jack Froese. “I was happy to support the motion to allocate five per cent directly to municipalities to assist with funding of local projects, and we are now seeing the results.”