Canada and Newfoundland Governments Announce Highway Initiatives for 1997/98

Federal Transport Minister David Anderson and Julie Bettney, provincial Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, today announced that 56 highway improvement projects will be carried out in fiscal year 1997/98 under existing Canada/Newfoundland highway initiatives.

In 1997/98, the federal government will provide approximately $29.5 million under the Trans-Canada Highway Agreement and $24.5 million under the Regional Trunk Roads Agreement. The funds will be used to begin new projects or complete existing ones. Another $11 million in projects, cost-shared 50/50 by the federal and provincial governments, will also be spent under the Strategic Highway Improvement Program and the Atlantic Freight Transition Program. (See attached lists.)

"These projects are another step to ensure that Newfoundland and Labrador continues to have an efficient transportation system," noted Mr. Anderson.

"This ongoing co-operation between the federal and provincial governments will go a long way in improving the province's transportation network, and in addition will generate significant benefits for the local construction industry," said Minister Bettney.

These projects are part of the existing Newfoundland Transportation Initiative agreement with the federal and provincial governments, signed in 1988 and expires in 2003.

Tendering for these projects will begin immediately.

Contact:

     Kevin Dormody            Barbara Harris
     Communications           Public Relations
     Transport Canada         Department of Works, Services
     (709) 772-6197           and Transportation
                              (709) 729-5884

TABLE 1

TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY AGREEMENT
PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997/1998

1. Modification to two bridges and removal of railway overpass on Trans-Canada Highway at Clarenville.
2. Paving a 9.0 km section of Trans-Canada Highway between Norris Arm and Notre Dame Junction.
3. Paving Trans-Canada Highway from Port aux Basques scales towards Cape Ray Intersection, approximately 9.0 km.
4. Replacement of North Branch River Bridge and removal of the Old Railway Overpass Structure near North Branch.

CONTRACTS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BUT NOT AWARDED

1. Grading Trans-Canada Highway from Triangular Pond to Argentia Access Road, 9.5 km approximately.
2. Widening Trans-Canada Highway at Grand Falls-Windsor to four lanes from Cromer Avenue to East Industrial Access, approximately 3.6 km.
3. Resurfacing Trans-Canada Highway from end of previous project east of Baie Verte Intersection to Springdale, approximately 15.0 km.
4. Construct three overpasses on Outer Ring Road

CARRY-OVER PROJECTS

1. Paving Trans-Canada Highway from Little Rapids to Steady Brook including surface course asphalt from Steady Brook to Massey Drive. (Awarded in 1996).
2. Grading Trans-Canada Highway from Little Rapids to Pasadena. (Awarded in 1996).

TABLE 2

REGIONAL TRUNK ROADS AGREEMENT
PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997/1998

NEW PROJECTS

1. Paving Conception Bay North Bypass from Hodgewater Line to Bay Roberts including overpass at North River.
2. Paving Conception Bay South Bypass from Manuels Arterial to Foxtrap Access Road.
3. Resurfacing Route 80 from Heart's Content towards Green's Harbour, approximately 18.0 km. (Continuation from previous paving projects).
4. Replace bridge on Route 10 at Cape Broyle along with road alignment.
5. Resurfacing Route 210 Burin Peninsula from Terrenceville Intersection towards Swift Current, approximately 15.0 km. (Continuation from previous paving projects).
6. Resurfacing Route 360 Bay D'Espoir Highway from end of previous project towards Northwest Gander River, approximately 17.0 km.
7. Construction of bridge at West Brook on road from Main Brook to St. Anthony Airstrip.
8. Upgrade and resurface 14.0 km of Route 340 between Boyd's Cove and Summerford. (Continuation from previous paving Projects).
9. Resurface Route 430 between Deer Lake and Wiltondale, 15.0 km.
10. Construct Corner Brook Waterfront Access (Phase I) from Lewin Parkway to Station Road.

CONTRACTS PREVIOUSLY AWARDED BUT NOT APPROVED

1. Construction of Goulds Bypass (Phase I).
2. Construction of overpass on Conception Bay South Bypass at Easons Road and Dunns Hill Road.

CARRY-OVER PROJECTS

1. Complete Phase III of road from Main Brook to St. Anthony Airstrip. (Awarded in 1996)

TABLE 3

STRATEGIC HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 1997/98

1. Resurface Route 221-10 from Bulls Cove to Fox Cove, approximately 8.0 km.
2. Upgrade and pave Wreck Cove Road, 4.2 km.
3. Pave Island Harbour and Deep Bay Road, approximately 13.9 km.
4. Place crushed gravel on Change Island Road.
5. Resurface 6.1 km of Route 340 through Twillingate.

TABLE 4

ATLANTIC FREIGHT TRANSITION PROGRAM 1997/98

1. Replace culverts at Coachman's Cove and Seal Cove.
2. Replace bridge at Shoe Cove.
3. Pave Mings Bight Road, 11.1 km.
4. Construct Sidewalk on bridge at Clarke's Brook, Benoits Cove. (Committed)
5. Resurface from Irishtown to Summerside and Ring Road to Mount Moriah, 5.0 km.
6. Install culvert on Route 202-10 Long Harbour Road.
7. Pave communities of English Harbour East and Grand Le Pierre, 4.2 km.
8. Paving Local Roads at Wing's Point. (Carry over)
9. Resurfacing Route 235 from Bonavista Town Boundary to Lighthouse including three local roads. (Committed)
10. Upgrade and resurface Route 235 from Open Hall Intersection to Keels Intersection, 10.0 km.
11. Resurface Route 31 from Torbay towards Bauline, 5.0 km.
12. Resurface 1.5 km section of Portugal Cove Road from Churchill's Road towards Old Broad Cove Road.
13. Complete upgrading and paving Route 350-17, Pleasantview Road, 8.7 km.
14. Foundation Protection for Bridge at Head of Bay D'Espoir
15. Replace culverts on route 210 between Marystown and Grand Bank along with retaining wall at Lawn.
16. Replace South River Bridge, Route 70.
17. Repairs to concrete retaining wall at Harbour Main including realignment of Route 60.
18. Resurface 10.0 km of Route 90 from Mount Carmel towards Riverhead including repairs to various sections between Riverhead and St. Vincents.
19. Resurface from Abraham's Cove towards Lourdes, 6.0 km, and Abraham's Cove towards Cape St. George, 4.0 km, including repairs to various sections between Port au Port West and Abraham's Cove.
20. Resurface Plum Point to Brig Bay, 5.0 km.
21. Construction of Highlands River Bridge. (Carry over)
22. Paving 4.0 km of Route 460.
23. Resurface 4.0 km from Upper Ferry to Searston.
24. Resurface 2.0 km Route 403 from Flat Bay towards St. Teresa's.
25. Pave Route 430 from St. Anthony to Goose Cove.
26. Resurface 7.0 km of Route 70 in vicinity of Flambro Head.
27. Resurface Route 239-10 through Trinity, 2.3 km. (Committed)
28. Resurface Route 231 from Bar Bridge towards Elliott's Cove, 3.0 km.
29. Resurface Route 232 Burgoyne's Cove Road 7.8 km from intersection Route 230-A to Harcourt.
30. Paving Route 380-18 Long Island from ferry terminal to wharf at Beaumont, approximately 8.8 km.
31. Rehab Indian River Bridge, Route 390.