NLIS 1
September 23, 2005
(Transportation and Works)
The following is being distributed at the request of the Council of Ministers
responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety:
National Highway System expansion announced
The Council of Ministers responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety
agreed yesterday at their meeting in Calgary to expand the National Highway
System (NHS), following a report and recommendations by the National Highway
System Review Task Force.
The task force was led by Transport Canada and the New Brunswick Department of
Transportation, with participation by all federal, provincial and territorial
transportation departments.
Approximately 4,500 kilometres of feeder routes and 5,900 kilometres of northern
and remote routes are being added to the NHS, as well as approximately 500
kilometres of key intermodal connector routes.
�I would like to thank the members of the task force for their hard work,� said
Transport
Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, co-chair of the council. �These roads are being added
because they are of strategic importance to Canada, its provinces and regions as
they keep people and goods moving efficiently, effectively and safely.�
�This expansion will result in an even better highway system for the benefit of
all provinces and territories,� said Minister of Alberta Infrastructure and
Transportation Dr. Lyle Oberg, co-chair of the council. �The expanded highway
system will help increase safety on our roads, which is a priority for the
council.�
Canada�s NHS was established in 1988 and consists of a 24,500 kilometre network
of key interprovincial and international highway linkages.
In September 2004, the Council of Ministers approved the addition of 2,700
kilometres of new routes to the NHS, as a result of a study undertaken by
Transport Canada, to reflect changes that have occurred in Canada�s population,
economy and trading patterns since 1988.
The expanded NHS agreed upon today encompasses 38,021 kilometres of key highway
linkages in three categories:
-
Core Routes Key interprovincial and international corridor routes (the original 1988 NHS
routes, the September 2004 additions, and links to key intermodal facilities and
major border crossings which connect with �core� routes)
-
Feeder Routes Key linkages to the core routes from population and economic centres (including
links to intermodal facilities and important border crossings)
-
Northern and Remote Routes Key linkages to core and feeder routes that provide the primary means of access
to northern and remote areas, economic activities and resources.
The full report of the Task Force can be obtained on the internet at
www.comt.ca.
Media contact:
Ir�ne Marcheterre Director
of Communications Office of the Minister, Ottawa (613) 991-0700
Martin Dupuis
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation
Communications
(780) 427-1938
2005 09 23 8:45 a.m. |