NLIS 3
June 15, 2000
(Works, Services and Transportation)

St. Judes by pass work announced

Works, Services and Transportation Minister Rick Woodford announced today that government has allocated $2.5 million for road work to address safety concerns near St. Judes.

The department plans to issue a tender call within the next week to remove the bridge at the Spillway, replace it with a culvert and raise the grade of the road. The tender will also include grading the four kilometre long St. Judes by pass (from Spillway Bridge towards Corner Brook). The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

People in the area say the Spillway Bridge is dangerous, especially because of severe white outs in winter. "This is a real concern for anyone driving on the Trans Canada in this area, especially for residents," said Woodford. "I�m glad that we can get started on this work."

The Trans Canada Highway is being diverted away from St. Judes and through the by pass to reduce the amount of high speed traffic passing through the town. "People are traveling on the highway at very high speeds. Unfortunately, some don�t slow down when they get to the town, even though the speed limit is reduced," said Woodford. "This by pass will help reduce the number of accidents in this area. It�s a safety issue."

Media contact: Lynn Evans, Communications, (709) 729-3015.

2000 06 15                             2:30 p.m.