Transportation and Works
January 28, 2013

Trans Labrador Highway to be Widened and Resurfaced

Motorists, residents and businesses across Labrador will soon benefit from major improvements to the Trans Labrador Highway.

The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador today announced a joint investment of $85,057,332 to begin widening and paving Phases II and III of the Trans Labrador Highway between Red Bay and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. At approximately 1,200 kilometres long, the Trans Labrador Highway is the region’s primary public road, crossing some of north-eastern Canada’s most remote terrain.

“Our government is proud to support these significant highway improvements that will create numerous local jobs, drive economic growth and strengthen our communities,” said the Honourable Peter Penashue, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, and Member of Parliament for Labrador. “The Trans Labrador Highway is a vital link for Labradorians, our economy and our tourism industry. These upgrades will help connect workers with jobs, products with markets and travellers with destinations.”

“A few short years ago the final metres of gravel for the Trans Labrador Highway were placed to create the first continuous connection across Labrador,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Transportation and Works. “Today we take the next step towards the completion of this great project by continuing to widen and pave the highway from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Red Bay. This is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the province, and a key component of our government’s unwavering commitment to the people of Labrador.”

Under the Building Canada plan, Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador have partnered to provide strategic funding for priority infrastructure needs. Through the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund, the Government of Canada is providing $175 million to strengthen infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Since 2006, the Government of Canada has made unprecedented investments in public infrastructure. Through the Gas Tax Fund alone, municipalities across the country have received over $10 billion in transfers for local priorities. Making this fund permanent at $2 billion annually was part of Canada's Economic Action Plan – a plan to help create good jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. Between 2007 and 2014, Newfoundland and Labrador municipalities will receive close to $113 million from the Gas Tax Fund to improve local infrastructure.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is making strategic investments in infrastructure to encourage economic growth and provide a strong foundation for future development. Budget 2012: People and Prosperity provided approximately $900 million for infrastructure improvements, of which $310 million was invested in various transportation and works infrastructure initiatives, including $65.8 million to call tenders to complete Phase I of the Trans Labrador Highway. The Provincial Government has made Labrador’s needs and opportunities a provincial priority and, by the end of this fiscal year, more than $3 billion overall will have been spent in Labrador since 2004.

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• Photo 1: The Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Transportation and Works was in Happy Valley-Goose Bay this morning as part of an $85 million joint announcement by the Federal and Provincial Government to widen and resurface Phases II and III of the Trans Labrador Highway.
• Photo 2: The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador today announced an investment of $85 million to begin widening and resurfacing phases II and III of the Trans Labrador Highway. Representatives from both the Federal and Provincial Governments attended the event. Pictured (left to right) are Keith Russell, MHA for Lake Melville, the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Transportation and Works, the Honourable Peter Penashue, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, and Member of Parliament for Labrador, the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister of Service NL and Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, the Honourable Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance).

For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.

To find out what the Government of Canada is doing to promote jobs, growth and prosperity, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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BACKGROUNDER
Trans Labrador Highway between Red Bay and
Happy Valley-Goose Bay to be widened, resurfaced

In December 2009, the Trans Labrador Highway officially opened as a mostly unpaved thoroughfare from Labrador City-Wabush in western Labrador to Red Bay in southern Labrador. This meant that for the first time in history, people could travel from western Labrador to the south coast by personal vehicle, a distance of approximately 1200 kilometres.

The Trans Labrador Highway was constructed in three phases:

• Phase I from Labrador City-Wabush to Happy Valley-Goose Bay: Approximately 530 kilometres
• Phase II from Red Bay to Cartwright junction: Approximately 240 kilometres
• Phase III from Cartwright junction to Happy Valley-Goose Bay: Approximately 300 kilometres.

The process of widening and hard surfacing of the approximately 530 kilometres of Phase I began in 2007. This is scheduled for completion in 2014.

The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador today announced an investment of over $85 million through the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund towards the widening and hard surfacing of approximately 200 kilometres of the Trans Labrador Highway as part of Phases II and III.

The Trans Labrador Highway traverses some of the most remote terrain in eastern Canada. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador provides the travelling public with access to an emergency satellite phone program for use on the highway. Satellite phones are available free of charge to motorists, and can be picked up and dropped off at various locations in Labrador. The Trans Labrador Highway is a key component of the province’s Northern Strategic Plan. Since 2004, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has invested approximately $450 million in Trans Labrador Highway infrastructure.

2013 01 28                    10:50 a.m.