The Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Transportation and Works, announced today that the Provincial Government has issued tender calls for a pair of road safety initiatives.

The first is for installation of rumble strips along both sides of approximately 250 kilometres of the Trans Canada Highway (TCH). The strips are milled out sections inside the white shoulder line, that when traversed, alert drivers they are veering off the highway. This work will be done on all sections of the TCH that have been upgraded over the past two years. The estimated cost of installation is approximately $500,000 and is funded under the Canadian Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF).

Minister Whalen said the rumble strips, which are becoming extensively utilized throughout North America, are a cost-effective means of making provincial roads safer for the motoring public. "Next to line painting, rumble strips have proven to be one of the most effective safety initiatives in highway design," said Minister Whalen.

"And I�m proud to say this will be a trend going forward as the department continues to upgrade the TCH."

Minister Whalen also announced that tenders have been issued for the installation of a median barrier on a section of the Outer Ring Road between Thorburn Road and Topsail Road. The project was initially announced on May 4 as part of the $66.5 million, Provincial Roads Improvement Program.

"This barrier is another preventative measure our government is taking to make our roads safer," said Minister Whalen. "In this instance, we are focusing on a stretch of road which is heavily-traveled and one in which motorists often use excessive speed. This initiative will prevent cross-median collisions."

The Provincial Government estimates the Provincial Roads Improvement Program creates 1,200 person years of employment, with 94 per cent of the work being done in rural areas. The roads program is part of the province�s six-year strategy for infrastructure improvements exceeding $2 billion.

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