The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister of Transportation and Works:

Transportation Infrastructure Improved Following Successful Construction Season

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform Honourable Members of the Provincial Government’s ongoing efforts to improve and strengthen the transportation network throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Our Provincial Roads Improvement Program, with a budget of $59 million this year, has delivered on a long list of upgrades this past construction season, ranging from guide rail and culvert replacements to rehabilitation and resurfacing of dozens of kilometres of asphalt on our highways.

Mr. Speaker, significant progress was made this year on all three phases of the Trans Labrador Highway and construction continues on the Team Gushue Highway with major underpass work now taking place. The Conception Bay South Bypass project is nearing completion with a $4.4 million tender award for paving and a $2.9 million contract for the construction of Scott’s Road underpass. The four-lane divided highway from the Massey Drive Interchange to the Corner Brook Industrial Access Road is also close to completion with $6.5 million in contract work invested this year.

Bridge replacements and repairs are also playing an important role in our overall infrastructure improvements this year. We have invested more than $1.8 million in rehabilitation projects including Sandy River Bridge, Horwood River Bridge, Parsons Pond Bridge, North Harbour River Bridge, Little Salmonier River Bridge and the Curtis Causeway Bridge. We have invested over $5.3 million in bridge replacement projects including Main Point Bridge, Gull Island Bridge, English Harbour East Bridge and Traverse Brook Bridge. Construction of the new lift bridge in Placentia is well underway and construction has begun on the approaches to prepare for the replacement of the Sir Robert Bond Bridge.

Emergency repairs played a crucial role in transportation upgrades this year. Over $1.8 million in repairs were necessary on the TCH near Pasadena following damage after record water levels were experienced on the west coast. A berm was constructed at Exit 12 to reinstate the ramp and the TCH and further repairs to the TCH and the ramp at Exit 13 are now nearing completion. A rain storm on the Burin Peninsula also caused damage requiring quick action. More than $675,000 was invested to undertake emergency repairs in Lawn, Lord’s Cove and near Cow Head Lookout.

Mr. Speaker, since 2004, we have invested more than $1.4 billion to upgrade our roads and highways to enhance the transportation system here in our province and improve the safety for residents, tourists and businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador.

2013 11 07                                     1:50 p.m.