St. George�s-Stephenville East to benefit from provincial roads program

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, and Joan Burke, MHA for the district of St. George�s-Stephenville East, today announced road work for the district valued at $800,000 under the Provincial Roads Improvement Program for 2004.

"The 2004 program provides an increase of $7 million in funding for the rehabilitation and replacement of bridges, as well as improvements in the existing road network," said Minister Rideout. "This will result in improvement in the infrastructure in St. George�s-Stephenville East."

Projects for the district include:

• rehabilitation of Searston Gut Bridge
• rehabilitation of Harry�s River Bridge
• resurfacing various sections of Routes 406 and 407

"I expect tenders to be called in the near future for these projects,"said Minister Rideout.

MHA Burke said, "I am delighted that the road users of St. George�s-Stephenville East will see improvements in the local infrastructure as a result of this announcement. In addition, the section of the Trans Canada Highway from Flat Bay to Ficshells remains a priority in the district and for government."

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, Communications (709) 729-3015

2004 06 16                                      12:05 p.m.