CANADA AND NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR GOVERNMENTS ANNOUNCE
$35 MILLION CONTRIBUTION FOR 2002/2003 HIGHWAY INITIATIVES

ST. JOHN�S �The Honourable David Collenette, Minister of Transport, together with Percy Barrett, provincial Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, today announced $35 million in Government of Canada contributions for highway improvements in fiscal year 2002/2003 under existing Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador highway initiatives. Nine (9) new highway projects will help create about 350 direct and indirect jobs.

"Today�s contribution will help ensure that Newfoundland and Labrador continues to have an efficient transportation system," said Mr. Collenette. "A strong transportation network provides the necessary foundation on which the Province can build in order to take full advantage of the many strengths of its people and resources."

"The Roads For Rails agreement has been crucial to the development of the highway system in this province," said Mr. Barrett. "We certainly look forward to working with the federal government on future highway initiatives which will help improve Newfoundland and Labrador's transportation infrastructure and support regional development."

The Government of Canada will provide $23.7 million under the Trans-Canada Highway Agreement and $11.3 million under the Regional Trunk Roads Agreement for these projects. The funds will be used to begin new projects or complete existing ones. Both these agreements form part of the existing Newfoundland Transportation Initiative signed by the federal and provincial governments in 1988. The Newfoundland Transportation Initiative is scheduled to expire in 2003.

Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the current fiscal framework.

A list of the nine new projects is attached.

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Paving Bifurcation Road - The Bifurcation Road was identified as part of the Outer Ring Road project and is a four-lane divided connector road between the Outer Ring Road and Kenmount Road in St. John�s. This project will complete construction of the road with the application of base and surface course asphalt over the 2.3 km road.

Paving Outer Ring Road, Logy Bay-Harding Road - This project involves applying base and surface course asphalt to the section of the Outer Ring Road between Logy Bay Road and Harding Road (about 0.4 km). In conjunction with the overpass structure project, this will complete the eastern section of the Outer Ring Road.

Construct Overpass Structure, Logy Bay Road - This project will entail the construction of a pre-stressed four-lane concrete overpass structure over the Outer Ring Road at its junction with Logy Bay Road in order to facilitate uninterrupted traffic flows on both roads. The project will also involve construction of interchange access ramps.

Paving Trans Canada Highway, Port-aux-Basques - South Branch - This project involves resurfacing with surface course asphalt sections of the Trans Canada Highway between Port-aux-Basques and South Branch. Upgrading and paving with base course asphalt has already been completed on this section. Placement of surface course asphalt will complete the project.

Paving Trans Canada Highway, Badger - South Brook - This project involves resurfacing with surface course asphalt approximately 52 km of the Trans Canada Highway between Badger and South Brook. Upgrading and paving with base course asphalt has already been completed on this section. Placement of surface course asphalt will complete the project.

Paving Trans Canada Highway, Pynn�s Brook - Deer Lake - This project involves resurfacing with surface course asphalt approximately 12.5 km of the Trans Canada Highway between Pynn�s Brook and Deer Lake. Upgrading and paving with base course asphalt has already been completed on this section. Placement of surface course asphalt will complete the project.

Paving Conception Bay North Bypass Road, Harbour Grace - Carbonear - This project involves applying base and surface course asphalt to approximately 6 km of the Conception Bay North (CBN) Bypass road between Harbour Grace and Carbonear. This will complete construction of the CBN bypass project.

Paving Cooper Boulevard Extension, Gander - This project involves applying base and surface course asphalt to the 2.6 km Cooper Boulevard Extension between the Trans Canada Highway and the Gander Bay Highway. This will complete construction of the Cooper Boulevard project and facilitate traffic flow through Gander.

Resurface section of Route 10, Southern Shore Highway - This project involves resurfacing with surface course asphalt approximately 5 km of Route 10 from Cape Broyle towards Ferryland. Upgrading and/or replacement of culverts and ditching work will be undertaken as required.

2002 06 07                              10:00 a.m.