Contract awarded for rehabilitation of Trans Canada Highway
between Holyrood Interchange and the Salmonier Line Interchange

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, today announced that a contract has been awarded for rehabilitation of a section of the Trans Canada Highway. Funding for this work is made available under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (C-SIF), a $48 million program cost-shared on a fifty-fifty basis between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Infrastructure Canada.

Municipal Construction Limited, Paradise, has been awarded a contract valued at $2,071,346 for rehabilitation of the Trans Canada Highway between the Holyrood Interchange and the Salmonier Line Interchange.

Minister Rideout said: �Our government is delighted to contribute $29.6 million to this initiative, which includes $5.6 million for project design and contract administration. The funding certainly comes as welcome news for the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. Under this program, sixteen rehabilitative projects will be completed along the Trans Canada Highway. These projects will go a long way toward improving the driving experience along the province�s primary highway.

�The Trans Canada Highway is vital to tourism and trade in this province. It is also the key link for the transportation of billions of dollars worth of goods into and out of the province. To that end, funding of this magnitude will make a significant contribution to the development of local economies throughout the province.�

Jean-C. Lapierre, federal Minister of Transport, R. John Efford, regional minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, and Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, announced this commitment on August 11.

�The awarding of the contract for roadwork in this area is certainly welcome,� said Terry French, MHA for Conception Bay South. �I am pleased that the federal and provincial governments have agreed to cost-share this initiative. This investment of nearly $2.1 million will greatly improve road safety for the traveling public in my district.�

�The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to making strategic investments to projects that will improve road safety, protect and strengthen local jobs, and build strong communities,� said Minister Rideout. �Both levels of government have acted expeditiously to put this funding to work to ensure that residents and travelers alike can begin to enjoy the benefits of these improvements as soon as possible.�

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

2005 10 14                         10:40 a.m.