Transportation and Works
August 28, 2008

Provincial Roads Program Nearing Finish Line

Virtually all of this year�s $73 million Provincial Roads Improvement Program has been tendered and/or awarded � the fastest pace in the province�s recent history.

The Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Transportation and Works, announced today that 84 contracts for road and bridge work have already been awarded this construction season.

"I�m obviously delighted with the unprecedented expediency in which we are delivering the roads program, especially when you consider the record amount being done," said Minister Whalen. "Only $2.5 million remains un-tendered and we will attend to that in the near future. It is important to get these tenders out early so that we can take full advantage of the construction season."

Minister Whalen also pointed out the contract for the lone project remaining under the Canadian Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), replacement of the Flat Bay Brook Bridge, on the province�s west coast, has been awarded. Additionally, nine projects under the Federal-Provincial Base Funding Agreement have been tendered and/or awarded.

In Labrador, the Provincial and Federal Governments will cost-share $45 million for work on Phase I of the Trans Labrador Highway (TLH) this season. Tenders for paving 30 kilometres in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and widening 100 kilometres on each end of Phase I have been awarded and work is currently underway. The Provincial Government will also invest $17 million to continue construction of Phase III of the TLH. Construction of the Otter Brook and Travespine River bridges and grading of 33 kilometres on the Cartwright end of the highway have already begun. One remaining tender for grading will be issued in the coming weeks. The Provincial Government expects to construct approximately 50 kilometres of Phase III this year and complete the highway in fall 2009.

In Budget 2008, the province invested $673 million in infrastructure. This is the third year of the Provincial Government�s six-year infrastructure strategy, valued at over $3 billion, which is expected to generate an average of 6,500 person years of employment each year.

"These investments not only revitalize our provincial infrastructure, they also stimulate economic growth, particularly in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, where much of the funding is directed," said Minister Whalen.

- 30 -

Media contact:

David Salter
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 691-3577

davidsalter@gov.nl.ca


2008 08 28                                                    10:15 a.m.
 


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement