Significant investments in road infrastructure

Works, Services and Transportation Minister Jim Walsh said Budget 2003 demonstrates government�s commitment to improving transportation infrastructure by making significant investments in constructing and upgrading the province�s highways. The total provincial-federal capital investment in road work planned for 2003-04 is approximately $74.3 million.

"This government recognizes the fact that investments in our infrastructure help the provincial economy, especially in rural Newfoundland and Labrador where most of the road work will be carried out," said Minister Walsh. "This spending will benefit the construction industry, particularly the road builders, as well as spin-off industries. As well, the upgrades will help facilitate more efficient movement of people and goods in those areas."

Minister Walsh said the provincial government has allocated $23 million in the Provincial Roads Program, a $1 million increase from last year, to carry out much needed repairs to local roads throughout the province.

Through the federal-provincial cost-shared Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, $15 million is available for improvements to the Trans Canada Highway. Approximately $9.6 million remains in the Roads for Rails agreement to complete the Outer Ring Road, Veterans Memorial Highway and the Queen Elizabeth Bridge, Glenwood.

"Once again we have an ambitious construction program planned for Labrador," said Minister Walsh. "In total we have allocated $26.2 million for the Trans Labrador Highway, of which $17 million has been earmarked to begin construction of the highway between Cartwright and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, pending approval under the environmental assessment process."

Minister Walsh said funding has been set aside to complete work on phase two of the Trans Labrador Highway. "This past fall we opened the final section of phase two to Cartwright. The opening marked the first time in history there has been a road link from Red Bay to Cartwright. Although the road is open, we still have to do some additional work, in the amount of about $4.65 million." Minister Walsh said the department will also spend approximately $4.5 million to complete the road to Pinsent�s Arm and $500,000 to upgrade local roads in Cartwright.

"The amount of road work we have carried out in Labrador over the past several years has been phenomenal. It is the most road-related construction work the area has ever seen, " Minister Walsh said. "And our commitment to ensure the completion of phase three means road construction in Labrador will continue over the coming years."

The department will spend approximately $4.7 million on summer and winter maintenance on the Trans Labrador Highway. This includes an increase of $250,000 for maintenance on the newly-opened sections of the highway between Charlottetown and Cartwright.

The provincial and federal governments will cost-share the $100,000 purchase of Road Weather Information Systems technology to assist winter maintenance activities.

"$74 million is a substantial amount of money and I am thrilled we have received this funding for road construction," said Minister Walsh. "I am excited about the amount of road work planned for this year and I look forward to making some much needed improvements to our transportation infrastructure."

Media contact: Lynn Evans, Communications, (709) 729-3015.

2003 03 27                                       4:30 p.m.