Transportation and Works
September 1, 2016

Building Infrastructure to Connect Communities

Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador Announce over $26 Million for Major Road Improvements

The governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are making investments in transportation infrastructure that will help create jobs and grow the middle class now while building a strong foundation for a sustainable economic future.

Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays - Central - Notre Dame, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Al Hawkins, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Transportation and Works, today announced that the federal and provincial governments will each be providing up to $13.3 million to repave almost 60 kilometres of roadway on Route 1 and Route 2.

Spanning all the way across Newfoundland from east to west, Route 1 plays a vital role in accommodating tourism and connecting communities on the Island. It also connects the Island's four airports, and plays a vital role in accommodating freight traffic at the major seaports in St. John's and Corner Brook. Rehabilitating this key transportation link and improving Route 2 will increase driver safety and help pave the way for economic growth throughout the region.

Quotes

"Public infrastructure connects people, supports job creation, and boosts economic development. The Government of Canada is working in close partnership with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure we make smart investments that help grow the middle class, promote sustainable development and increase public safety. By supporting improvements to these critical transportation routes, we will help local businesses move their goods to market and foster long-term prosperity for years to come."
- Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays - Central - Notre Dame, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Having a strong partnership between federal and provincial governments is essential to growing our province. The funding being announced today will support key roads projects along the Trans-Canada Highway and Pitts Memorial Drive over the next two to three years. We are pleased that two of these projects have already been tendered to recap the pavement from the Sir Robert Bond Bridge to Grand Falls-Windsor and for work on the Outer Ring Road that supports the metro St. John's region. These investments support the Provincial Government's longer term multi-year transportation infrastructure plan."
- The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works

Associated links:

• Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada's new $120 billion infrastructure plan: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/index-eng.html .
• Federal infrastructure investments in Newfoundland and Labrador: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html .
• New Building Canada Fund - National and Regional Projects: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nrp-pnr-prog-eng.html .
• New Building Canada Plan: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html .
• Have your say on infrastructure: infraconsults.ca .

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Media contacts:

Blair Medd Director of Communications Department of Transportation and Works 709-729-3015, 631-8465 blairmedd@gov.nl.ca	Brook Simpson Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities 613-219-0149 Brook.Simpson@canada.ca
Infrastructure Canada 613-960-9251 Toll free: 1-877-250-7154 media@infc.gc.ca Twitter: @INFC_eng Web: Infrastructure Canada

2016 09 01                              1:45 p.m.