Matthew Claxton, Langley Advance

The first federal infrastructure dollars have arrived in Langley to rebuild an aging bridge.

A multi-million-dollar infusion of cash will generate jobs and create a new bridge over the Nicomekl River in Langley City this year.

On Saturday, Langley MP Mark Warawa announced that federal and provincial money will help fund the new bridge, replacing the current structure on Fraser Highway near 208th Street.

The funding comes from four groups.

Ottawa, the provincial government and Langley City will each contribute more than $2.63 million.

TransLink will add $1.14 million.

The entire project will cost more than $9 million.

The existing wood-framed two-lane bridge will be replaced with a four-lane structure.

Nearby sidewalks and bike access will also be upgraded.

A start date for the project has not yet been announced, said City Mayor Peter Fassbender.

"Our staff is working very quickly," he said.

Conceptual designs are already completed. Now they have to be transformed into finished, detailed designs.

There will also have to be environmental approvals, as the project is being built over a salmon-bearing stream.

Warawa was in Parliament on Monday and could not be reached for comment on the project.

In a press release issued on the weekend, he said the project came from the federal budget's infrastructure spending program.

"We are looking for projects that are ready to get started immediately," said Warawa.

Langley City and Township had both been asked to submit their top three shovel-ready infrastructure projects several months ago. The City recently confirmed that the Nicomekl Bridge project was its top priority.

Fassbender said the project will also help with flooding.

During recent heavy rains, the bridge had to be closed temporarily.

Not only was the water level high, but debris began piling up against the side of the bridge.

Heavy equipment was used to fish out the wood, paper, and garbage that had accumulated against the side of the structure.

So far, there have been no announcements of a comparable infrastructure project in Langley Township.

© Langley Advance 2009