Transportation and Works
December 16, 2009
The following statement was given today in the House
of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of
Transportation and Works:
Trans Labrador Highway Phase III
Now Open �
Connecting Labrador West, Through Lake Melville, to
Southern Labrador
I rise today to provide an update on the status of
one of the largest and most significant transportation
projects in this province�s history.
The Trans Labrador Highway is being constructed in
phases. Phase I is complete and runs between the Quebec
border in Labrador West and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. We
have committed to widening and hard-surfacing this phase
of the highway and we continue to work toward this goal.
The total cost of widening and hard-surfacing is
expected to be nearly $200 million.
Phase II is also complete and runs from the Quebec
border in Southern Labrador to the Cartwright Junction.
This government began awarding contracts for the
construction of Phase III, running between the
Cartwright Junction and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, in 2004
and I have the great pleasure of announcing that,
effective today, Phase III of the Trans Labrador Highway
is open to the public. This connects all three phases
into one continuous Trans Labrador Highway route that
spans approximately 1,150 kilometres from Labrador West
to Southern Labrador. This is a truly monumental
achievement and a pivotal moment in the history of
Labrador and indeed the entire province.
The final cost of Phase III is expected to come in at
approximately $130 million. To date, since the Williams
Government�s first budget in 2004, we have spent
approximately $185 million on the Trans Labrador
Highway. Our commitment has been unwavering.
We had hoped to have an opening ceremony today to mark
this historic occasion but due to adverse weather in the
Big Land, we were not able to proceed as planned. With
the installation of the last few pieces of highway
signage completed, this road is now ready to be opened.
With Christmas just around the corner and many people
anxiously awaiting the opening of this highway, we felt
it was important to open this highway as soon as
possible. Weather, particularly on the South Coast of
Labrador, has been very poor today and, given the
adverse conditions, I ask motorists to check the latest
road conditions before venturing out on this highway by
calling the department�s dispatch line.
Next summer we will spend approximately $15 million to
officially complete Phase III. Work will include things
like the completion of two permanent bridge structures
currently under construction, finishing work on the road
surface and the completion of guide rail and permanent
signage.
Mr. Speaker, this highway will greatly enhance the
transportation network and bring Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians closer together. I look forward to joining
my Labrador colleagues and the peoples of Labrador to
formally open this road at a ceremony sometime in the
future.
2009 12 16
2:30 p.m.