Road improvements announced for Trinity North District

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, and Ross Wiseman, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services, and MHA for Trinity North, today announced roads projects for the district, valued at $933,000 in new funding. This funding is made available under the 2005-06 Provincial Roads Improvement Program.

�As part of government�s ongoing commitment to provide a safe and reliable provincial roads infrastructure, $45 million, plus an additional $3.7 million carried over from last year, has been allocated for road upgrades throughout the province under the Provincial Roads Improvement Program,� said Minister Rideout. �Rehabilitating 9,500 km of roads that our department maintains throughout this province is a responsibility that government takes very seriously and to that end, I am pleased to announce roads upgrades for the Trinity North District.�

The district will see the upgrading and resurfacing of Route 230A between Milton and George�s Brook, valued at $372,000. Other projects for the district include replacing Adeytown Bridge on Route 2-1-09 with a culvert, valued at $125,000. Government has also allocated $45,000 to improve the sight distance at the Branton�s Road and the Trans Canada Highway intersection at North West Brook. Local roads in the south west arm area of the district will also see paving to the tune of $391,000. In addition, $7,000 will be carried over from last year for the replacement of a culvert at Salmon Cove Brook on Route 230 near Champney�s.

�This roadwork, valued at $940,000, will go a long way toward addressing some of the most pressing infrastructure needs in my district of Trinity North,� said Mr. Wiseman. �The upgrading and resurfacing of roads, installation of new culverts and improvement of sight distance at a major highway intersection will greatly increase public safety for road travelers in the district. Our government is committed to safe and reliable infrastructure and this year�s announced road work certainly reflects this commitment.�

�Road work projects will aid in the development of rural Newfoundland and Labrador since road work creates employment opportunities. In addition, an improved infrastructure will promote safety,� said the minister. �Our government is committed to the economic growth of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. We have made several significant investments into government programs that benefit rural areas in the past 18 months. Our substantial investment into the roads program is indicative of our commitment to the development of rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3015, 690-8403

2005 07 26                        2:40 p.m.