Feds to invest $31 million in infrastructure for Banff, Kootenay

BANFF - Parks Canada and the federal government will spend $31.1 million on infrastructure projects in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks.

The money will be used to upgrade roads and bridges and will help protect or restore sensitive aquatic ecosystems, according to a press release published on May 3.

It will also be used to improve visitor facilities and day use areas in both national parks.

In Banff National Park $604,000 will be used to conserve and rehabilitate four log cabins at Skoki Ski Lodge National Historic Site.

Another $3.8 million will be used to replace the HVAC systems with more efficient technology at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre, the Saddleback housing in Lake Louise and the McKay garage and operations centre in Kootenay National Park.

"Through this infrastructure investment in the mountain national parks, the government is helping preserve Parks Canada's places while supporting the local economy. It will ensure safe, high-quality visitor experiences for years to come, and enable Canadians, including youth and newcomers, to experience the outdoors and learn more about our environment," wrote Catherine McKenna,
minister of environment and climate change.

In Kootenay National Park, projects include $10.1 million to replace a culvert on Highway 93 South at Marble Canyon to help protect upstream populations of bull trout from invasive species and help future westslope cutthroat and bull trout populations connect. The money will also be used to rehabilitate the Wardless Creek Bridge, which is currently in the design phase with construction anticipated for 2020. The money will also be used for rehabilitation work for the Kootenay River bridge.

Another $6.5 million has been earmarked for the replacement of the Haffner Creek Bridge located on Highway 93 South, just south of Marble Canyon day use area.

The government will also spend $9.1 to rehabilitate the Sinclair Canyon Bridge. This project will replace and rehab five culverts along a six kilometre stretch of highway near the Radium Hot Spring Pools and fix the Rundle stone facing on the Iron Gates Tunnel on Highway 93 South.

An additional $1 million will be used to replace the Numa Falls Bridge, install a new public restroom, upgrade the Numa Falls day use area and rehabilitate 500 metres of nearby trails.