Minister announces awarding of contract for road work in Humber East

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, and Tom Marshall, MHA for Humber East, today announced that Mike Kelly and Sons Limited has been awarded a contract to complete road work in the district. Funding for this work is made available under the 2005-06 Provincial Roads Improvement Program.

Mike Kelly and Sons Limited, Howley, has been awarded a contract valued at $378,982 to grade the connection from the Massey Drive Emergency Access Road to the Corner Brook Ring Road.

Minister Rideout said: "The construction of this road will greatly improve traveling conditions in the Massey Drive area and make it more accessible for motorists. I am extremely pleased that this contract has been awarded, and that residents in this area can soon enjoy these benefits."

"I am pleased a tender has been awarded for work to begin to connect the Massey Drive Emergency Access Road to the Corner Brook Ring Road," said Minister Marshall. "These road improvements will indeed make traveling the Massey Drive area safer and far more pleasant for the motorists. This $378,982 investment is another concrete example of this government�s commitment to providing reliable infrastructure throughout the province."

"This government has undertaken the largest Provincial Roads Improvement Program in decades," said Minister Rideout. "This is indicative of our commitment to rehabilitating the province�s transportation infrastructure. At $48.7 million, including carryovers, this year�s program represents an $18.7 million increase over the 2004-05 roads program.

"Our government recognizes that the issues currently facing our roads cannot be fixed overnight. We understand that significant monies must be allocated in order to bring the province�s transportation infrastructure up to an acceptable level. With $48.7 million allocated under this year�s roads program, this government is taking the necessary steps toward accomplishing this goal, and we will continue to make monies available for continued upgrades to our community roads and highways."

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

2005 10 20        10:10 a.m.