Next section of Veterans Memorial Highway to open

Percy Barrett, Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, and George Sweeney, MHA- Carbonear-Harbour Grace, announced today the next section of the Veterans Memorial Highway, from Tilton to Riverhead-Harbour Grace, is open to traffic.

"This highway has already been beneficial to the people of this area for many reasons," said Minister Barrett. "The bypass, which provides direct access to the Trans Canada Highway for the Conception Bay North area, has made travel much more efficient and has opened up the area for development."

"I look forward to this highway opening," Mr. Sweeney stated. "It will represent economic benefits to communities along the route and I look forward to further development in these areas as a result of this increased access."

Approximately $7 million has been spent constructing the 6.7 kilometre section of the highway from Tilton to Riverhead-Harbour Grace. The total budget for the Veterans Memorial Highway is $48 million, of which approximately $45.5 million has been invested to date. In total, approximately 42 kilometres of new and existing road will be built and upgraded. The highway, which will be upgraded as far as Carbonear, will be completed in fall 2003.

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

2002 12 06                                      11:15 a.m.