Jasper National Park getting $210M fix
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...411/story.html
Quote:
Roads, campgrounds and heritage buildings in Jasper National Park will be spruced up in a $210-million investment, the federal government said Thursday.
The infrastructure and conservation improvements include extensive work on Highway 16 and the Icefields Parkway.
Campgrounds will be revitalized and heritage buildings such as the Jasper Fire Hall, an interpretive centre in the town, will be renovated.
The Valley of Five Lakes trail and parking lot will be upgraded. Work is planned for nine bridges on Highway 16 to ensure their long-term integrity and safety.
Parks Canada said money will also aid species at risk recovery through southern mountain caribou and whitebark pine conservation.
Some of the work is already underway and will continue over the next five years.
In a written statement, Yellowhead MP Jim Eglinski, said the money “will create and protect jobs and opportunities in the area while also offering excellent opportunities for Canadians to be able to connect with nature, learn and to be inspired.”
The government says it is spending more than $500 million in highway infrastructure on regional national parks, including Banff, Glacier, Jasper, Kootenay, Mount Revelstoke and Yoho.
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What improvements would you want for Jasper National Park?
First and foremost, the Yellowhead Highway. It's unfortunate that our major commercial and travel corridors pass right through our national parks, but that decision was made back in the horse and buggy days. Ideally I would like to see a new twinned Yellowhead through Jasper park, and maybe likewise through Robson, and turn the existing highway into a Bow Valley Parkway type of road. If that's not feasible, then at least build some passing lanes and wildlife corridors for the existing road.
I'd like to see improvements at Miette Hot Springs. The access road needs an upgrade, and more accommodations wouldn't hurt. This could potentially be another Radium but it's isolated and is closed for half the year.
Another ski resort outside of the park boundary, if possible?