NLIS 4
September 9, 2005
(Transportation and Works)
Minister announces
awarding of contract
for continued work on Phase III of the Trans Labrador Highway
Tom Rideout, Minister of
Transportation and Works, today announced that Johnson�s
Construction Limited has been awarded a contract to continue work on
Phase III of the Trans Labrador Highway. This project is funded
under the Labrador Transportation Initiative Fund.
Johnson�s Construction Limited, Pasadena, has been awarded a
contract valued at $8,026,204 to grade approximately 28 km of the
highway from Cartwright Junction toward Happy Valley � Goose Bay.
�In Budget 2005, government allocated $40 million for continued work
on the Trans Labrador Highway, including carryovers from last year,�
said Minister Rideout. �I am extremely pleased that we have been
able to follow through on this commitment, and today�s announcement
marks a huge investment into this initiative, and brings us
significantly closer to making this highway a reality.�
The minister added that this is tremendous news for residents of
Labrador.
�All Labradorians will now see yet another portion of the Trans
Labrador Highway project become a reality as this work is
completed,� said the minister. �Residents and tourists alike have
experienced the need for this vital link through Labrador for a
number of years now.
�I am extremely pleased that our government is now in the position
to make another stride toward ultimately addressing this need.�
Minister Rideout added that government is strongly advocating for
the federal government to include the Trans Labrador Highway as part
of the National Highway System, creating a road link between this
province and the rest of the country and making the Trans Labrador
Highway road work eligible for federal funding. The total cost of
Phase III is estimated to be $110 million.
�Our government is committed to continuing construction of this
highway,� said Lake Melville District MHA John Hickey. �The work to
be completed is significant and will directly benefit the residents
of Labrador and those in the Lake Melville area in particular. This
highway initiative will greatly improve Labrador�s economic and
tourism potential.�
Minister Rideout said, �The beauty of Labrador makes a significant
contribution to the overall aesthetic value of our province. It
deserves to have a solid transportation infrastructure to further
enhance its potential and the Trans Labrador Highway is a key
component in reaching this point.
�Government is proud of its achievements in Labrador and will
continue to identify and act on future needs and opportunities.
Throughout 2005 and 2006, the Department of Transportation and Works
will evaluate the performance of the 15 kilometre chip seal road
surface that was laid in 2004 to determine its suitability as an
alternative to conventional asphalt in the Labrador environment. We
are planning to construct a new depot along the Trans Labrador
Highway between Red Bay and Lodge Bay for the storage of winter
maintenance equipment that will help accommodate the equipment
required to address the severe weather conditions experienced along
this section of road.
�We�re going to continue to work with Labradorians to generate new
opportunities that will benefit its people, communities and economy.
�Our government is committed to the development and revitalization
of the transportation industry in Labrador, and it is on schedule to
be complete by 2009.�
Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3015,
690-8403
2005 09 09
3:15 p.m. |