Road work announced for Exploits, Grand Falls-Buchans and Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune districts

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, today announced road work for Exploits Grand Falls-Buchans and Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune districts under the 2005-06 Provincial Roads Improvement Program.

"The Department of Transportation and Works maintains approximately 9,500 km of primary, secondary and community roads throughout the province, and government has an ongoing commitment to improving all transportation links in order to provide a safe and reliable roads system," said Minister Rideout. "To that end, a number of projects have been planned throughout the province with the attainment of this goal in mind."

In Exploits District, $90,000 will be spent to replace four culverts in Point of Bay, Northern Arm and along Route 350. In addition, $165,000 carried over from last year will be used for the rehabilitation of the Grand Falls Central Railway overpass at Bishop�s Falls East, and repairs to Bond Bridge.

Planned road work in Grand Falls-Buchans District includes an allocation of $300,000 for shoulder highway improvements on the Buchans Highway. In addition, there are plans to repair traverse cracks on the Trans Canada Highway between Grand Falls-Windsor and Badger. This work is valued at $50,000. There is also carryover work for the district valued at $63,000. This will be used for the rehabilitation of Thunder Brook Bridge and repairs to Rushy Pond Bridge.

In Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune District, government will resurface various sections of Route 360, and replace the existing culvert at Clutch Hill Brook on Route 362. This work is valued at $550,000.

"In Budget 2005, government will be spending $33.7 million on the Provincial Roads Improvement Program, including $3.7 million in carryovers from last year," said Minister Rideout. "This substantial investment in our roads infrastructure is indicative of our government�s commitment to providing a safe and reliable roads infrastructure."

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

2005 05 24                          10:20 a.m.