More Road Work Rolling into Eastern Newfoundland

Roads throughout eastern Newfoundland will see improvements this year as the Provincial Government continues to roll out its roads program. The Department of Transportation and Works has called a tender that will see various road work and Hurricane Igor repairs carried out in the Bellevue and Placentia - St. Mary’s regions of the province.

“We are forging ahead with our provincial infrastructure strategy throughout Newfoundland and Labrador,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works. “Our highway network features prominently in this strategy and we are making many improvements that will benefit all highway users.”

The tender will see various Hurricane Igor repairs completed on the Trans Canada Highway from Chapel Arm to Goobies; on Route 201 from Chapel Arm to Chance Cove; on Route 202-10 in Long Harbour; Route 203 in Fair Haven; and, Route 210, Burin Peninsula Highway, from Goobies to Swift Current.

“I am pleased to see this road work tender call for these areas of the province,” said the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Justice and Attorney General and MHA for Placentia - St. Mary’s. “I am particularly pleased to see the improvements on Route 202-10 in Long Harbour which has become a heavily travelled road due to the significant industrial development in the area. All users of this road will welcome these improvements.”

The tender will also see the upgrading and paving of Route 2-1-03 in Arnold’s Cove and Routes 210-10-1 and 210-10-2 in Goobies; paving a section of Route 2-1-05, Refinery Road near Arnold’s Cove, and sections of Route 210 in Swift Current; and, the replacement of culverts on Route 210 south of Swift Current.

“The work to be carried out as a result of this tender will be welcomed by all,” said Calvin Peach, MHA for Bellevue. “Our government has been investing substantially in our road network to make improvements for the benefit of all motorists and these projects are good news for the entire region.”

Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador provides more than $1 billion for provincial infrastructure investments. This includes $216.4 million in Provincial Government funding for road and bridge improvements throughout the province. This funding will be supplemented by an additional $35.2 million in Federal Government funding, providing for a total road and bridge investment in 2011-12 of $251.6 million.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

2011 07 19                                                                             10:40 a.m.