Transportation and Works
January 11, 2007

Government Making Historic Investments in Provincial Roads

The Williams Government has made unprecedented investments in the province�s highways and plans to continue that trend, said the Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Transportation and Works, in response to recent unfounded remarks from the Opposition.

"The previous administration shamefully ignored the province�s roads for years and left us quite a mess to clean up," said Minister Hickey. "In fact, in 1996 they spent a paltry $6 million on roads. This neglect created a challenge for us but I�m proud to say we�re making great strides to rectify this situation, as evidenced by our $60 million investment in roads just last year. We will invest at least that amount again this year."

The Provincial Roads Improvement Program has doubled in value from $30 million in 2004-05 to $60 million in 2006-07.

Minister Hickey also took the opportunity to correct misinformation put forward by the Opposition regarding road work being "re-announced".

"Over $59 million of the $60 million budgeted for the Roads Improvement Program will be spent in this current fiscal year with little or no carry-over," said Minister Hickey. "My department would have provided that information if the Opposition inquired."

Government will invest $300 million in infrastructure in this current fiscal year, of which $171 million is earmarked for transportation infrastructure. Approximately 97 per cent of this investment in transportation infrastructure is being spent outside the Northeast Avalon region.

-30-

Media contact:
David Salter
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 691-3577
davidsalter@gov.nl.ca 

2007 01 11                                              1:50 p.m.
 


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement