Minister announces awarding of contract for road work in Placentia and St. Mary�s

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, today announced that Municipal Construction Limited has been awarded a contract to complete road improvements throughout Placentia and St. Mary�s District. These projects are funded under the 2005-06 Provincial Roads Improvement Program.

Municipal Construction Limited, Paradise, has been awarded a contract valued at $1,133,509 to complete the following projects:

• Recapping approximately 1 km of Route 90 in Riverhead;
• Recapping approximately 1.5 km of Route 90 in St. Mary�s;
• Recapping approximately 1.2 km of Route 91 from Colinet to Rocky River Bridge;
• Recapping approximately 1.2 km of Route 100 at Jerseyside Hill
• Replacement of culverts on Route 100 between St. Bride�s and Branch.

�This year�s provincial roads program is valued at $48.7 million,� said Minister Rideout. �I am very pleased that my department has been able to make this very significant investment into the province�s transportation infrastructure. Government has undertaken a very large initiative, and the department has been able to very effectively handle the process, which includes assessing the infrastructure for priority projects, planning these projects and tendering the work.

�In excess of 50 tenders have been called to date, and a number of projects are either ongoing or have been completed throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. To that end, I am pleased that additional road work can be commenced, and I am delighted to announce that a contract has been awarded for work in Placentia and St. Mary�s.�

The minister says that government is committed to the revitalization of rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

�A solid transportation network, particularly roads infrastructure, will create considerable benefits for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador,� said Minister Rideout. �It will increase the number of tourists to our communities and promote local economies. Road work also creates employment opportunities, and our government is pleased to provide these opportunities as we continue to implement strategic initiatives such as the Provincial Roads Improvement Program.�

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

2005 09 16                                     10:00 a.m.