A master plan on how to improve the Trans-Canada Highway through the Fraser Canyon is nearing completion.

Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart says local stakeholders have been working for three years to plan a list of priorities between Lytton and Yale, called “Wake Up the Canyon.”

“There certainly is some work to be done around viewpoints, around pullouts, around trail development, signage, those kinds of things that we need support on from government. So we recently have sent letters out to all of the new ministers, reminding them that this project is ongoing,” Tegart says.

“Anyone who has driven through the Fraser Canyon knows how spectacular it is. It’s looked a little tired. I think the plan will help motivate people, and we’ll be looking forward to incredible improvements throughout the Fraser Canyon.”

Tegart says stakeholders want to be able to pitch shovel-ready improvement projects to be funded by government. She says the master plan should be finished in the spring.

She was also asked if the timing of proposing improvements through that corridor has worked out to the advantage of stakeholders, with directives to stay close to home and within your own province last summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Absolutely. I think that any of the small communities, certainly in my riding, have indicated that they saw a lot of British Columbia people, who had never been to their communities before, visiting this past summer.”

Tegart says it’s also a great opportunity to promote day trips there for people from Metro Vancouver, when the timing is right.

“And so that is our goal, is to say, yes, the Sea-to-Sky is fabulous, but we also have an incredible route to come through. With history, First Nations, culture. The Fraser Canyon is a gem that we’ve forgotten about.”