Minister announces awarding of contract for road work in St. George�s-Stephenville East

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, and Joan Burke, MHA for St. George�s-Stephenville East and Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, today announced that Humber Valley Paving Limited has been awarded a contract to complete road improvements throughout the district. Funding for these improvements is made available under the 2005-06 Provincial Roads Improvement Program.

This is part of a contract awarded to Humber Valley Paving Limited, Deer Lake, valued at $2,642,181, to complete road work in areas throughout the western region.

Under this portion of the contract, valued at $561,810, approximately 6.2 kilometres along Main Road through St. George�s will be paved, as well as approximately 1.2 kilometres of Steel Mountain Road.

�This year�s $48.7 million roads program, which includes $3.7 million in carryovers, is indicative of our government�s commitment to ensure economic development in all regions of the province,� said Minister Rideout. �Over the past two years, government has made significant investments in business and community economic development with the goal of boosting development in rural areas.

�The Provincial Roads Improvement Program will contribute to government�s rural development strategy by providing employment opportunities and stimulating local economies. As we guide Newfoundland and Labrador toward economic and fiscal stability, our government will continue to invest in initiatives such as the roads program as it provides tangible benefits for all residents.

�To that end, I am extremely pleased that this contract has been awarded, and that residents in this area can soon be exposed to the benefits associated with these improvements.�

�It is great news that this contract has been awarded and the work can soon begin. The residents have advocated for this work and I am anxious to see this completed so that we can move forward with determining next year�s priorities,� adds MHA Joan Burke, District of St. George�s-Stephenville East. �Step by step, the constituents of this district are benefiting from this government�s commitment to transportation infrastructure.�

�I am pleased to say that much of the road work comprising this year�s program has been completed, or is near completion,� said Minister Rideout. �All areas of Newfoundland and Labrador have benefited from this year�s program, and we will continue to address the current issues facing our transportation infrastructure as our mandate continues.�

These road projects are funded under the 2005-06 Provincial Roads Improvement Program and are not related to last week�s flooding in the Stephenville area. When an assessment of the damages has been completed, a further announcement will be made outlining the necessary repair work that will be undertaken.

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3015, 685-3415

2005 10 11                                       10:05 a.m.