Transportation and Works
April 27, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works:

Minister Hawkins Provides Update on Road Work for 2016-17 Construction Season

Mr. Speaker, our government is investing $62 million this year in the Provincial Roads Program and this past Friday, we announced the full list of projects for this year and began to issue tenders.

I am also pleased to inform my Honourable colleagues Mr. Speaker that our government has been successful in negotiating with the Federal Government changes to eligibility criteria for cost-shared funding. Minimum traffic volumes for example, have been reduced to better reflect the needs of our province and allow a greater number of road projects to receive federal funding. Eligible projects will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mr. Speaker, the safety of our roads and highways is of primary importance. Our crews undertake critical work year-round through both the winter and summer maintenance programs.

Our government's budget ensures funding for these programs is maintained, along with brush-clearing funding to help mitigate moose-vehicle collisions, and we are making the necessary investment of $61.6 million to support our heavy equipment fleet and snow and ice control operations on our highways.

Mr. Speaker all of this represents a robust year for road construction and maintenance that will benefit the construction industry and communities throughout the province, while encouraging economic growth.

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2016 04 27                              2:30 p.m.