Minister addresses road projects in Grand Bank District
and discusses carryover road work under provincial roads programs

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, today addressed the status of planned road projects for Grand Bank District and discussed the nature of carryover road work under the 2005-06 Provincial Roads Improvement Program.

�The road work for Grand Bank, which includes resurfacing a section of Route 210 between Marystown and Grand Bank and a section of Route 220 between Epworth and St. Lawrence, has already been tendered,� said Minister Rideout. �The tender will close on September 1, and we will proceed to award the contract as soon as possible thereafter.�

The minister added that every effort will be made to complete the work this year, weather permitting.

�The construction season typically lasts until the end of October,� said Minister Rideout. �Therefore, should weather cooperate, we are optimistic that this work can be completed before year�s end.�

Minister Rideout said that when undertaking a roads program valued at $48.7 million, carryovers are to be expected.

�We have nearly $50 million worth of roads projects that are either planned, in progress or completed throughout Newfoundland and Labrador,� said the minister. �Nearly 50 tenders have been called by my department since May. We have embarked upon a large initiative. As such, it isn�t unreasonable to assume that there may be carryovers, nor will our department be disappointed if this becomes the case.

�All work will be completed early next year if not this fall. Our government is committed to revitalizing the transportation infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador and therefore, we are more interested with making sure the work gets done properly, and are less concerned about completing it all in one season.

�That is the reason for compiling a $48.7 million program. It is a large investment into our roads, with the consequence that it may take more than one construction season to spend the complete budget.�

The minister noted that carryovers are characteristic of any provincial roads program.

�In 2003, under the previous administration, a $23 million program was undertaken and $2.6 million was carried over into 2004,� said Minister Rideout. �Therefore, $20.4 million was actually spent during the 2003 construction season. With a $48.7 million effort this year, should even $10 million be carried over, this will culminate to over $15 million more being spent under the current program than two years ago. This would be a highly more effective effort.�

Minister Rideout said that while the department has every intention of maximizing the number of projects completed this fall, any uncompleted work will be completed early next year.

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

2005 08 26                  4:50 p.m.