In her last speech to the Union of B.C. Municipalities before the provincial election, Premier Christy Clark committed to four-laning the Trans-Canada Highway between Kamloops and the Alberta border.

Clark said the $650-million price-tag will include $141 million from the current three-year service plan on highway expansion and add in another $509 million into a 10-year capital plan.

The province will work with Ottawa to find matching funds to double the width of the 280-kilometre stretch.

The highway expansion will benefit people who travel among the communities affected, all British Columbians and Canadians who want to access this province's coast, she said.

"Let's get the job done."

The premier also promised to replace the George Massey Tunnel, a structure built in 1958 that has become a frustrating bottleneck for drivers in the Lower Mainland.

Clark emphasized that the money for the major projects wasn't new funds, but savings made from pinching pennies.

"Infrastructure is necessary to make sure our economy is moving. We have to make sure we're investing in infrastructure, especially the Pacific gateway, to make sure our economy is growing," she said.

Mayor Peter Milobar said the highway widening is good news. It's a road that's heavily travelled and can be dangerous in spots.

"It's an expansion of the twinning already going on, is my assumption," he said. "It's still really good news."

Coun. Nancy Bepple said the number of accidents that occur on the Trans-Canada is horrendous, so the widening would improve safety and benefit truck transportation.

"We've been waiting for this for a long time," she said.