The federal and provincial governments have committed $24.1 million to widening 3.4 kilometres of Highway 16 west of the city to four lanes.
The work will stretch from Bunce Road to 200 metres east of Jensen Road and will include upgrades to the intersections at Bunce and Gauthier Road, Sykes and Blackwater Road, and Buckingham and Haldi Lake Road.
The federal government is providing up to $10.1 million and the provincial government just under $14 million.
"When this four-laning is completed, it will increase the safety and capacity of Highway 16 for those travelling to and from B.C.'s northwest and for those who rely on this corridor for their commute," B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone said in a release issued Friday.
The City of Prince George will carry out $594,000 worth of concurrent improvements to municipal roads near the highway. That works includes adding a sidewalk and new street lighting near Vanway Elementary school as well as additional street lighting, traffic signals, and intersection improvements.
"Council has long known of the concerns of residents about this stretch of highway and we are very pleased to be a part of this major announcement," Mayor Lyn Hall said in the release.
The project is going to tender in December, construction will begin in summer 2017, and completion is planned for fall 2018.
Also, the passing lane at Cluculz Hill, announced earlier this week as part of a $37.7-million partnership with the federal government to build five passing lanes on Highway 16 will be a 1.7 km extension of the existing climbing lane and includes improvements to the Lloyd Drive intersection at that location.
Design on the project has begun and construction is expected to get underway in 2018.
