Contract awarded for Phase Three of Bell Island wharf upgrades

Percy Barrett, Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, and James Walsh, MHA - Conception Bay East and Bell Island, today announced government awarded a contract to Mariner Engineering and Construction Limited of St. John�s to carry out the third phase of upgrades to the Bell Island docking facilities.

The contract is valued at $762,174 and will include the construction of a new berthing dolphin between the two wharves at Bell Island. The dolphin will facilitate vessel berthing and mooring by providing a separation between two vessels docking or already docked. Work will commence immediately and is scheduled to be completed in September 2002.

"This work, along with the almost $3 million in upgrades we completed over the past two years, will greatly improve this service," said Barrett. "These upgrades are especially important now that we�ve added a second, year-round vessel."

"The provincial government has made major investments in this service, demonstrating our commitment to providing quality transportation to the people using the Portugal Cove-Bell Island service," said Walsh.

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

2002 05 17                            10:10 a.m.