Minister says department is committed to highway safety

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, today reiterated that his department is committed to highway safety.

"Steps have to be taken in order to prevent further deterioration of our provincial highway network. Unfortunately, our highway system has already suffered from years of under funding. Our government continues to address this issue and ensure that our roads maintenance program is operating effectively," said Minister Rideout.

"Our government plans to reallocate the funding in the roads maintenance program budget so that it will be used more effectively," said the minister. "The budget will continue to be at the same level this year as in the previous year. As a result, the level of summer road maintenance carried out in this and future years should increase due to better utilization of our resources."

"Public safety and improved roads infrastructure is first and foremost on this government�s mind," continued the minister.

Officials in the Department of Transportation and Works are currently devising a formula to determine the number of staff needed to provide service throughout the various regions in the province on a per kilometre basis. The minister said: "Our analysis is being carried out with input from all of our regions being taken into consideration. We have also had discussions with the union."

"Depots are not being closed. They are being winterized. This will result in the depots being effectively utilized when they are needed most," said the minister. "We can assure the public that they will get quality year-round service. When winter returns next year, these depots will reopen and we will have the same level of staff maintaining our roads during the winter as we�ve always had."

"Budget 2005 allocated significant monies for our provincial road network. This is indicative of our government�s commitment to our roads," said the minister. "It is my responsibility as minister to ensure that this funding is spent effectively and wisely to the benefit of the people of our province and the traveling public.

"Winterization of some Department of Transportation and Works depots is not about saving money. It is about using a proper resource mix and preventative maintenance on our roads and highways. Our government is committed to preserving and improving our present infrastructure."

"Our government has and will continue to spend strategically in areas that will result in long-term benefits for our province. This includes spending on our provincial highway network," said Minister Rideout.

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3015, 690-8403

2005 04 19                          3:30 p.m.