NLIS 1
June 30, 2006
(Transportation and Works)

Investing in Infrastructure:
Road and bridge improvements for St. George�s-Stephenville East  

Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works, today announced an investment of $2.45 million for bridge and road improvements in the St. George�s-Stephenville East area under the Provincial Roads Improvement Program, as part of government�s ongoing commitment to address the provincial infrastructure deficit and revitalize rural economies.  

Government will invest $300 million in infrastructure this year, of which $171 million is earmarked for transportation infrastructure.  Approximately 97 per cent of this investment in transportation infrastructure is being spent outside the Northeast Avalon region.  This is the first installment of a six-year strategy for infrastructure improvements exceeding $2 billion that will create more than 4,500 full-time equivalent jobs.  

�Government is fulfilling its Blueprint commitment to invest significantly in infrastructure,� said Minister Taylor.  �Improvements to transportation infrastructure create jobs in the short term and economic growth in the long term.�  

The road and bridge improvements planned for the St. George�s-Stephenville East area, totaling $1.3 million, are as follows:

• Replace expansion joint, Main Gut Bridge, Stephenville Crossing;
• Remove old bridge at Black Duck Siding;
• Upgrade and resurface the Loop Road in McKay�s and a section of Route 404 in McKay�s West;
• Resurface section of Route 406 between Broom Brook Bridge and Great Codroy.

Carry-over work from last year, totaling $1.15 million, will be done to resurface Main Street, St. George's and upgrade and pave the old TCH at Tompkins.  

�I'm quite pleased with this year�s road work for the district,� said Minister Joan Burke, MHA for the District of St. George�s-Stephenville East.  �Although there is still much more to do, this is a solid investment and I am looking forward to working with the towns, local service districts and residents in identifying further priorities and development plans.�  

There are also several projects planned under the Canadian Strategic Infrastructure Fund for this area, which include replacing Flat Bay Brook Bridge and River Brook Bridge and realigning approximately two kilometres of the TCH. In addition, there are plans to correct sections of the TCH with rutting problems from Crabbs River to North Branch; approximately 25 kilometres. These projects total $8 million and are cost-shared between both provincial and federal governments.  

Furthermore, the department is committed to replacing the depot at Tompkins.  The new site will be located on the TCH near Doyles intersection at an estimated cost between $800,000 and $1 million. Funding for this project falls under Building Construction: Development of New Facilities as outlined in the 2006-07 Provincial Budget.  The actual design of the depot is slated to begin this year, and upon completion, the tender process will begin.  

The Provincial Roads Improvement Program has doubled in value from $30 million in 2004-05 to $60 million in 2006-07.  

Media contact: David Salter, Communications, (709) 729-3015, 691-3577  

2006 06 30                                                        9:05 a.m