May 19, 1999
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)

Forest resource road construction to start in Terra Nova District

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, and Tom Lush, MHA - Terra Nova, today announced that two contracts have been awarded for resource road construction in the Terra Nova District.

Ryan's Contracting Ltd. of Trepassey has been awarded a contract for construction on the Bloomfield resource road in Bonavista Bay. The contract includes reconstruction of 1.534 kilometers and 1.85 kilometers of new construction to a Class "C" standard. The second contract was awarded to Short's Backhoe and Trucking Ltd. of Deep Bight for construction of 2.5 kilometer of Class "C" road as an extension of the existing Thorburn Lake resource road near Port Blandford. This work will allow access to mature timber stands to facilitate scheduled harvesting in the area and to allocate cutting areas.

Mr. Lush said: "After harvesting is completed, the area will be silviculturally treated to ensure the establishment of a vigorous new stand." Mr. Aylward added: "Both projects are set to start June 1. Each will run for nine weeks and employ seven people. The Thorburn Lake project will provide essential access for commercial operators to construct their own roads into timber stands from this primary access road. These contracts, valued at $46,000 for the Bloomfield road and $38,000 for the Thorburn Lake project, demonstrate our commitment to maintain a safe and viable road system for access to our forests for commercial purposes."

Contact:

Ed Blackmore
P.O. Box 2222
Gander, NF
A1B 2N9
(709) 256-1451

1999 05 19                   10:10 a.m.