Long Island Causeway study to be registered with federal government

Jim Walsh, Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, announced today his department has registered the Long Island Causeway project with the Canadian Coast Guard under the Navigable Waters Protection Act.

Last fall, the department appointed Amec Earth and Environmental to conduct a waterway users study to help determine the feasibility of constructing a causeway between Long Island and Pilley�s Island in Notre Dame Bay. Amec consulted with users of the waterway and recommended the vertical and horizontal clearances of 6.3 metres high and 25.3 metres wide, respectively, would accommodate the majority of marine traffic.

With the waterway users study completed, government submitted an application under the Navigable Waters Protections Act to receive the approvals necessary to construct the causeway. The Department of Works, Services and Transportation filed the application yesterday. The Canadian Coast Guard will review the project and assign a 31-day period during which the public can provide comment on the project. It is expected that registering the project will trigger an environmental review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, as well as a provincial environmental review.

"Government is moving ahead with plans to construct the causeway between Long Island and Pilley�s Island, subject to Navigable Waters and environmental approval from the federal government," said Minister Walsh. "I�d like to thank the Coast Guard for their cooperation thus far and am looking forward to working with them further on this project."

Government currently spends approximately $600,000 annually in ferry services between Long Island and Pilley�s Island.

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

2003 08 05                                     12:25 p.m.