April 10, 2014
The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister of Transportation and Works:
Minister Recognizes Work of Winter Maintenance Crews
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to acknowledge and applaud the continued efforts of our winter maintenance crews, who work tirelessly to ensure our highways and roads are safe during winter.
The Department of Transportation and Works is responsible for maintaining close to 10,000 kilometres of primary and secondary highways and community access roads throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Our winter maintenance team consists of 820 dedicated employees that work diligently, often in treacherous conditions, to ensure roads are safe for the traveling public.
Mr. Speaker, our winter maintenance operators view snow clearing as being integral to their communities and regions and work hard to get roads plowed quickly and keep equipment in good working order. They take great pride in their work and I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to thank each and every one of our employees for their hard work and contribution during this long, cold winter.
Our provincial winter maintenance program represents an annual investment of $65 million, providing for the operation of 570 pieces of equipment including 310 plow trucks, 29 snow blowers, 153 loaders, 32 graders, 42 backhoes, and four brine tankers. More than 200,000 tons of salt and 275,000 tons of sand will be distributed on our highways this winter.
As Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we are very aware that weather and road conditions can change quickly and that snow reduces visibility and stopping distance. We can all help make our roads safer by driving defensively and adjusting our speed to suit weather conditions. Safety remains our top priority.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Honourable Members to join me in acknowledging the important work that our winter maintenance team continues to do on our behalf.
2014 04 10 2:00 p.m.