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

Major Progress Being Made on Trans Labrador Highway

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to provide Honourable Members with an update on the significant progress being made on all three phases of the Trans Labrador Highway.

Phase I, representing close to 530 kilometres from Labrador City/Wabush to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, is very close to completion, with just 60 kilometres between Churchill Falls and Happy Valley-Goose Bay remaining to be paved in 2014. I look forward to the momentous occasion of being one of the first motorists to drive on a fully paved highway from Labrador West to Happy Valley-Goose Bay next summer.

Mr. Speaker, two project tenders recently awarded called for the widening and upgrading of 80 kilometres on each of Phases II and III of the Trans Labrador Highway. Significant progress was made this past construction season on both two-year projects. Over 90 per cent of the work is now completed on the 80 kilometre section of Phase III, from Happy Valley-Goose Bay heading south; and 20 per cent of the work is completed on the 80 kilometre section of Phase II from Red Bay heading north.

The Trans Labrador Highway is one of the largest infrastructure projects in our province’s history, spanning close to 1,100 kilometres and navigating some of the most remote land in our country.

Mr. Speaker, Labrador is fittingly referred to as the big land and with the current boom we are seeing in the energy and resource sectors, the economic opportunities are even bigger. Every kilometre that is widened and upgraded is significant to both residents and visitors of Labrador and every kilometre that is paved helps to advance growth and prosperity for the region.

More than $500 million has been invested to date on construction of the Trans Labrador Highway and we will continue to invest to ensure completion of this mega-project, helping to shape our province’s future.

Mr. Speaker, we all look forward to completion of the Trans Labrador Highway and to fulfilling our promise to the people of Labrador.

2013 11 21                                     1:50 p.m.