Hurricane Igor Repairs Addressed in Tender Calls

Final repairs will be made this summer to roads, culverts and bridge structures damaged by Hurricane Igor in the Trinity North, Bonavista South and Terra Nova regions as the Department of Transportation and Works calls two tenders for multiple projects.

“Now that the road construction season is upon us, we can begin the work of making permanent repairs in areas damaged by Hurricane Igor,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works. “This work will span multiple communities and make substantial improvements to approximately 40 highways and roadways in these areas.”

Work will be divided into two tenders, with one focused on road repairs in approximately 130 areas around the region and one on reinforcement projects for six large culvert structures in Charlottetown, Lockston, Port Rexton, Hodderville and Amherst Cove.

“Since Hurricane Igor swept through our communities in the fall, our government has been working to complete needed repairs,” said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation and MHA for Trinity North. “This roadwork will strengthen our roads and highways for the benefit of area residents and businesses as well as for those who visit our region.”

Roadwork to be completed as part of the first tender will cover a wide range of projects including but not limited to asphalt removal, patching and repaving, shoulder repair, ditching, guiderail repair and replacement, slope stabilization, and culvert removal and replacement. The tender also includes three parcels of paving and upgrading work on Routes 204, 205 and 231, which are not related to Hurricane Igor repairs. All work is scheduled to be completed by the fall.

Projects in the tender call for the reinforcement of large culverts include work such as construction of concrete headwalls and welded wire retaining walls, and placement of rock fill and stabilization materials.

“After Hurricane Igor blew through our province, we knew that we would have to wait until the next construction season for permanent repairs,” said the Honourable Roger Fitzgerald, MHA for Bonavista South. “That wait will soon be over and our roads and highways will be strengthened with the projects included in these tenders.”

“Permanent fixes on Hurricane Igor repairs in our communities will be welcomed by everyone,” said Sandy Collins, MHA for Terra Nova. “In rural areas of this province, our highways are the main link to our services and a major factor in our economy. We look forward to these repairs, which will return our roads and highways to their pre-hurricane condition.”

Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador provides funding of $216.4 million for road and bridge improvements, supplemented by an additional $35.2 million in Federal Government funding, for a total road and bridge investment in 2011-12 of $251.6 million.

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2011 05 30                                                                                11:25 a.m.