Transportation and Works
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
December 18, 2009
Satellite Phone Service
Expanded to Trans Labrador Highway, Phase III
Motorists travelling
Phase III of the Trans Labrador Highway (TLH) between
the South Coast of Labrador and Happy Valley-Goose Bay
will have access to reliable emergency phone service
thanks to the expansion of the Provincial Government�s
TLH satellite phone program to include this section of
the highway.
The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation
and Works, announced today that a tender will soon close
for the provision of 25 new satellite phones that will
be made available to people travelling the TLH, Phase
III. These phones will be Iridium phones like those
currently in service on Phase I of the TLH, between
Labrador West and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which have
proven successful so far.
�This is a long isolated section of highway with no
inhabitants or business establishments for travellers to
approach in the event of an emergency,� said Minister
Hedderson. �By making these phones available for
emergency calls, we can give the travelling public
increased peace of mind as they drive this section of
highway and help to ensure they arrive safely at their
destination.�
The province recently changed to Iridium phones in
response to concerns about the reliability of the
previous service and these new phones have been working
well. The tender for the provision of the new phones
closes on December 21, 2009, and the department hopes to
take delivery of the phones by mid to late January. In
the interim, the department has reallocated five of the
group of existing phones from central and western
Labrador to the Alexis Hotel in Port Hope Simpson.
�By installing these new satellite phone systems, the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is working to
further ensure a safe journey over the Trans Labrador
Highway,� said the Honourable John Hickey, Minister of
Labrador Affairs. �As Labradorians celebrate the
historic completion of Phase III of this highway, and as
motorists venture throughout western, central, and
southern Labrador, the Williams Government will continue
to make every effort to support the safety and security
of travellers.�
Satellite phones can now be picked up at the following
participating hotels:
- Wabush Hotel in
Wabush;
- Midway Travel Inn in
Churchill Falls;
- Hotel North Two and
Royal Inn and Suites in Happy Valley-Goose Bay; and,
- Alexis Hotel in Port
Hope Simpson.
Additional locations for
the placement of satellite phones on the South Coast of
Labrador will be determined.
As with the phones currently in service, the new phones
will be pre-programmed to enable calls to be directed to
the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) in Labrador
City, which will co-ordinate appropriate emergency
response through either the RNC or Royal Canadian
Mounted Police.
- 30 -
Media
contacts:
Roger
Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca |
Roger
Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca |
2009 12 18
2:25 p.m.
|