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NLIS 9
(Transportation and Works)
March 11, 2005
Road from Red Bay to Lodge Bay can no longer be kept open
The road from Red Bay to Lodge Bay, on the South Coast of Labrador, can no longer be kept open due to the high volume of snow in the area.
"We�ve been able to keep the road open far longer than we expected we would be able to. However, conditions in the area are such at this point that it is simply no longer safe or feasible to even try to keep it open," said Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works.
Government announced in the 2004-05 budget that it would not be snow clearing the area from November until April. Minister Rideout said: "At the request of the residents of the area, we agreed to keep the road open until the first major snow blizzard. We�ve done very well in keeping it open until March 2."
The Department of Transportation and Works will begin work to reopen the road in April to ensure that it is open for the beginning of the running of the MV Apollo ferry.
Since the road between Red Bay and Lodge Bay opened in the fall of 2000, severe weather conditions have made it impossible to keep this road open and safe. During three of the past four winters, this section of road has been closed for a significant part of the winter. Last year, the road was closed for 68 days and, in 2003, the road was closed for 72 days.
There is an excessive amount of snow covering 15 to 20 kilometres of a 40-kilometre section of road in the area. It would cost approximately $75,000 to $100,000 a week to keep the road open with snow blowers, since conventional snow clearing equipment can no longer be used.
"My department is also looking at pragmatic solutions that will enable us to keep the road open over the long term," said the minister. "Key among these solutions will be the new depot in the area that was recently announced.
"Government will budget $750,000 in the 2005-06 budget year for the depot. This will enable us to keep the appropriate snow clearing equipment in the area and work from the centre of the road outward. We are also looking at other solutions, including examining the rock cuts and raising road grades."
The minister said that government is taking a long-term, comprehensive approach to keeping the road open in the same way that it is taking a long-term comprehensive approach in managing the province�s finances. "We are funding the maintenance and upgrading of our infrastructure in fiscally responsible ways by making strategic decisions that are in the best interest of the people of the province," said the minister.
Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3015 or (709) 690-8403
2005 03 11 4:55 p.m.
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