"This will be a busy year as we move aggressively to complete Phase III and as a result, connect the Trans Labrador Highway," said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works.

The Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador Affairs, says while completing the Trans Labrador Highway is a big step forward for Labrador, the pristine environment won�t be jeopardized in the process.

"In planning the design of this bridge, government wanted to minimize environmental impacts and therefore very little in-stream construction will occur," said Minister Hickey.

In addition to work on Phase III, this year approximately 130 kilometres of Phase I will be widened, 30 kilometres from Happy Valley-Goose Bay towards the Lower Churchill will be paved with asphalt and a Request for Proposals will soon be issued to determine the most cost-effective approach to hard-surfacing the 80-kilometre section of the TLH from Labrador City towards Churchill Falls. In total, $52.3 million will be invested on Phase I this year, cost-shared 50-50 with the Federal Government.

As part of Budget 2009, the Williams Government will invest over $300 million in transportation infrastructure. The Provincial Government�s infrastructure strategy is valued at more than $4 billion over the next several years.