Federal and provincial governments announce highway initiatives for 1996/97

Federal Transport Minister Douglas Young and John Efford, provincial Minister of Works Services and Transportation, today announced that 21 highway improvement projects will be carried out in fiscal year 1996/97 under several Canada/Newfoundland highway initiatives.

In 1996/97, the federal government will provide approximately $34 million under the existing Trans-Canada Highway Agreement and $20 million under the current Regional Trunk Roads Agreement. The funds will be used to begin new projects or complete existing ones. Another $4 million in projects, cost-shared 50/50 by the federal and provincial governments, will be spent under the Strategic Highway Improvement Program (lists follow).

Newfoundland will receive $21 million from the Atlantic Freight Transition Program over a six-year period. Over fiscal year 1995/96, approximately $6 million - cost-shared 50/50 by the federal and provincial governments - will have been spent on highway improvement projects under the program.

As part of the 1995 budget, the federal government announced the cancellation of the Atlantic Region Freight Assistance Program and its associated subsidies. The budget provided for $326 million in transitional funding to the affected provinces to upgrade highways and transportation infrastructure on a cost-shared basis, alleviate shipper hardship and implement other efficiency measures. These funds are to be provided under bilateral agreements, with each province determining where the money is to be spent.

"These projects are another step to ensuring that Newfoundland continues to have an efficient transportation system," noted Mr. Young.

"This ongoing cooperation between the federal and provincial government will go a long way in improving Newfoundland's transportation network and will generate significant benefits for the province's construction industry," said Mr. Efford.

Federal funding for these projects was provided for in the 1995 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

These projects are an example of how the federal government is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.

Kevin. F. Dormody Ian Chaytor Public Affairs Public Relations Transport Canada Department of Works, Services and Transportation (709) 772-4328 (709) 729-1968 NEWFOUNDLAND HIGHWAY INITIATIVES 1996/97 TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY AGREEMENT PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996/97 New Projects: ($000,000) 1. Paving Trans-Canada Highway from Hodgewater Line toward Whitbourne (approximately 9.5 km) including underpass at Ocean Pond and surface course on a four km section from Roaches Line toward Hodgewater Line. 4.00 2. Grading Trans-Canada Highway from Triangular Pond to Argentia Access Road (approximately 9.5 km). Estimated cost of project is $7.0 million with $4.0 million to be paid in 1996/97. 4.00 3. Paving surface course from Deep Bight to Clarenville (approximately eight km). 1.00 4. Upgrading Trans-Canada Highway from end of present year's project behind Norris Arm to Notre Dame Junction (approximately 13 km). 1.50 5. Upgrading Trans-Canada Highway at Grand Falls- Windsor from Cromer Avenue to East Industrial Access (approximately 3.6 km). 2.00 6. Resurfacing Trans-Canada Highway from end of previous project east of Baie Verte Intersection to Springdale (approximately 15 km). 3.00 7. Paving Trans-Canada Highway from Little Rapids to Steady Brook, including surface course asphalt from Steady Brook to Massey Drive. 6.00 8. Various bridge repairs on Trans-Canada Highway. 1.00 9. Grading Outer Ring Road between Topsail Road and Thorburn Road (approximately 3.0 km). 3.00 10. Construct overpasses on Outer Ring Road at Donovans, Topsail Road, Bifurcation Road, Thorburn Road, Groves Road, M.T.I. Connection, and Portugal Cove Road. Total estimated cost of project is $6.0 million with $4.0 million to be paid in 1996/1997. 4.00 NEWFOUNDLAND HIGHWAY INITIATIVES 1996/97 REGIONAL TRUNK ROADS AGREEMENT PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996/97 New Projects: ($000,000) 1. Construction of Conception Bay Bypass from North River to Shearstown (approximately 7.0 km). 3.50 2. Construction of Conception Bay South Bypass from Greelytown Road to Tilley's Road (approximately 2.0 km) including overpass at Foxtrap Access Road. 2.00 3. Resurfacing Route 80 from Heart's Content toward Heart's Delight (approximately 18.0 km) including improvements to bridge at Heart's Content. 2.00 4. Placing surface asphalt on Route 210 Burin Peninsula Highway from Clam Brook to Terrenceville (approximately 17.0 km) and from Rushoon Intersection to Red Harbour (approximately 14.0 km). 3.50 5. Resurfacing Route 360 Bay d'Espoir Highway from end of previous project toward Northwest Gander River (approximately 16.0 km). 2.00 6. Resurfacing Route 410 Baie Verte Highway from end of previous project toward Baie Verte (approximately 20.0 km.) 2.00 7. Construction of new access road from Main Brook toward Hare Bay (approximately nine km). Phase 111. Total estimated cost $2.0 million with $1.0 million to be paid in 1996/97. 1.00 8. Construction of Goulds Bypass - Phase I. 0.50 NEWFOUNDLAND HIGHWAY INITIATIVES 1996/97 STRATEGIC HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996/97 New Projects: ($000,000) 1. Replacement of existing steel bridge at Wabush Narrows with a concrete bridge, including road realignment. 1.75 2. Repairs to deck of Goose River Bridge. 0.75 3. Replacement of existing wooden bridge at Bob's Brook on Trans-Labrador Highway between Goose Bay and Churchill Falls with structural pipe. 0.50

1995 91 12

2:20 p.m.

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