Transportation and Works
May 8, 2015

Encouraging Job Creation, Strong Communities and a Strong Economy

Budget 2015 Supports Robust Roads and Summer Maintenance Programs

Over $90 million is being invested this year to improve and maintain provincial roads and bridges and to continue the Summer Maintenance Program. The funding is part of over $660 million allocated in Budget 2015 for roads, schools, health care facilities and municipal infrastructure projects.

"The Provincial Government continues to make significant investments to enhance the safety of our highways which includes important maintenance work as well as continued funding for the completion of strategic priority projects started last year. Budget 2015 allocates over $68 million through the Provincial Roads Program and over $20 million for summer road maintenance. These investments help stimulate economic activity and support residents and communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador."
- The Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works

Budget 2015 allocates $21.4 million for summer maintenance work, which includes annual equipment inspections, line painting, pothole and asphalt repairs, excavating ditches, upgrading road shoulders, repairing culverts, grading gravel roads, and installing and repairing guide rails and signs.

Approximately $70 million is provided this year for the Provincial Roads Program, which includes a number of multi-year projects, as well as the continuation of brush clearing and dust suppression programs. Projects this year include:

Baie Verte/La Scie;
• Baie d'Espoir Highway;
• Labrador West;
• Southeast Placentia Road; and
• Heart's Content Barrens.

"This is just a snapshot of the many projects which will take place throughout the province this year, and it includes work on some of our gravel roads which normally need attention following the winter months. Our crews work diligently throughout the summer to maintain the over 10,000 kilometres of roads and highways across Newfoundland and Labrador and our government invests significantly to ensure that provincial roads are up to par with the standards set across Canada."
- Minister Brazil

The Provincial Government remains committed to providing a safe and reliable transportation network throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Investments in recent years have helped upgrade and enhance hundreds of kilometres of highways and regional roads, as well as repair or replace over 25 bridges.

QUICK FACTS

• Over $90 million is being invested this year to improve and maintain provincial roads and bridges and to continue the Summer Maintenance Program.
• In addition to the summer maintenance work allocation of $21.3 million, approximately $70.3 million will be invested this year in the Provincial Roads Program, which includes a number of multi-year projects, along with the continuation of brush clearing and calcium chloride dust suppression programs.
• Key projects for this construction season include work on the Heart's Content Barrens, the Trans Labrador Highway, Southeast Placentia Road, along with upgrades to various other roads in regions across the province.

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Media contact:

Jacquelyn Howard Director of Communications Department of Transportation and Works 709-729-3015, 689-2624 JacquelynHoward@gov.nl.ca

2015 05 08                              11:35 a.m.