An agreement has been finalized that outlines plans to co-manage and co-develop the replacement of the Lillooet Station Bridge on Highway 99 south of Lillooet.
The current temporary single-lane bridge was installed in 1994 after the previous bridge caught fire.
It will be replaced with a new, two-lane structure.
"Signing this agreement with the Cayoose Creek Indian Band allows the band and the ministry to work together on this important infrastructure project in the Lillooet area," said Transportation Minister Todd Stone.
"I am confident this collaborative approach will make for a dynamic project from planning to completion."
The ministry and the Cayoose Creek Development Corp., the economic and business development arm of the Cayoose Creek Indian Band, have agreed on a collaborative approach to define the scope for the new bridge.
The new span will afford Cayoose residents easier and more reliable access into the Lillooet town centre.
The agreement sets the stage for the delivery of an important piece of infrastructure and is expected to facilitate the development of skills and capacity within the Cayoose Creek Indian Band community.
This partnership is cited as an a example of an important B.C. on the Move priority to work collaboratively with First Nations, partnering on projects that support economic development on First Nation lands.
"We consult with First Nations on all ministry projects," explained Sonia Lowe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation. "In this instance, we entered into an agreement with Cayoose Creek to develop a project scope that would meet the needs of the highway network and the community."
She said once the scope of the project is confirmed, then a schedule will be created to determine timelines and milestones.
"We are building bridges in our working relationship with the ministry. With this agreement, the province has acknowledged that our direct involvement and Cayoose businesses provide a valuable contribution toward the development and planning of the bridge replacement," said Chief Michelle Edwards with the Cayoose Creek Indian Band.
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