Kenney announces $2 billion plan to speed up infrastructure

Premiere Jason Kenney provides an update on COVID-19 on March 27 (Screenshot from provincial update March 27)

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – The Alberta government is making a major infrastructure investment to keep Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Jason Kenney says the government is putting forward $2 billion to infrastructure projects including school repairs, highway upgrades and HVAC repairs at post-secondary schools.

The new spending is a doubling of the current capital spending plan for the year, going from $937 million to about $1.9 billion.

“By doubling our capital maintenance and renewal project funds, we will deliver much-needed improvements to important assets, keep companies operating and most importantly, keep Albertans working,” said Kenney. “As the weather improves and buildings are empty, now is the perfect time for us to act.”

About $410 million will be used for transportation projects including an additional $60 million to cover pothole repairs across the province.

The government says 114 projects are currently in planning and design with 95 currently in construction.

Those projects include 27 schools and nine major bridge and road projects.