The Provincial Government's aggressive
infrastructure strategy is continuing to benefit regions all across the
province and road and bridge improvements are just one of the tangible
benefits of this strategy. The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of
Transportation and Works, today announced that a tender has been called
for the replacement of the Fischells River Bridge in the Bay St. George
region.
"The repair and, when necessary, the
replacement of highway bridge structures are things we take seriously in
the interest of public safety," said Minister Hedderson. "This bridge
has served the travelling public well and the time has now come to
replace it with a new structure that will serve the public for many
years to come."
The new bridge will be wider than the existing
bridge, which was constructed in 1953, and will conform to modern
highway standards. The project is cost-shared 50/50 between the
Provincial and Federal Governments under the federal Building Canada
Fund and is expected to start late this fall and to be completed in the
fall of 2011.
"The replacement of this bridge with a new
wider structure will benefit the people in this region of the province
and all those who travel this section of the Trans-Canada Highway," said
the Honourable Joan Burke, MHA for St. George's—Stephenville East.
Budget 2010:
The Right Investments — For
Our Children and Our Future
allocates a record $1 billion for
provincial infrastructure investments, for a total infrastructure
strategy valued at more than $5 billion over the next several years. As
part of this investment, $177.7 million in Provincial Government funding
is allocated for road and bridge expenditures throughout the province.
This funding will be supplemented by an additional $57.9 million in
Federal Government funding for a total road and bridge investment of
$235.6 million in 2010-11.
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