The BC Government says work to four-lane the Trans-Canada Highway in the Shuswap is officially underway.

Construction crews are working on a 4.3 kilometre stretch of the highway between Ford Road and Tappen Valley Road. The project went to tender earlier this year.

“Upgrading this portion of highway to four lanes and replacing the outdated infrastructure will allow traffic to move more safely and efficiently,” Transportation Minster Rob Fleming said, in a statement.

“Communities will be better connected, and businesses will be better able to move their products throughout the province and through B.C.”

The project, which includes a stretch of highway running through the Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw, formerly Little Shuswap Lake Band Indian Reserve No. 5, will “enhance connections” with the community and improve safety, the government said.

Work will primarily include the widening the current two-lane highway to four lanes.  A $128-million contract for this leg of the project has been awarded to Emil Anderson Construction earlier this year.

The Ministry says work is expected to take three construction seasons, with a completion date in 2026.

“During construction, efforts will be made to minimize traffic disruptions,” the Ministry said.

Crews will also replace the aging Tappen overpass, build frontage roads, and a commercial and passenger vehicle pullout as part of this project. A majority of the $243 million total cost – $161 million – will come from the province with the remaining $82 million coming from the federal government.

This announcement comes on the same day that the highway through Kicking Horse Canyon reopened after a two-week long closure.  That stretch of highway has some of the most difficult terrain as crews to four-lane the Trans-Canada Highway from Kamloops to the Alberta border.

For the rest of October there will be overnight closures with intermittent highway closures during the day.

“After Thanksgiving, some daytime stoppages and overnight closures [though the Kicking Horse Canyon] can still be expected,” the Ministry said last month.

“When completed this winter, this 4.8-kilometre section of narrow, winding two-lane road will be converted to a modern four-lane standard, making a safer, more reliable route for people travelling through the Kicking Horse Canyon.”

For more on the project to four-lane the Trans-Canada Highway from Kamloops to the Alberta border, go here.