Transportation and Works
June 9, 2015

Provincial Government Continues to Enhance Bridges on Provincial Roadways

Mr. Speaker, I stand in this Honourable House today to provide an update on the continued maintenance, enhancements, and construction of bridges across Newfoundland and Labrador. I am pleased to report that through significant investments, over the past three years alone 23 bridges have been replaced and repairs have been made to 40 other bridges throughout the province.

A number of bridge projects are currently underway. For example, construction continues on the new $40.6 million Placentia Lift Bridge which is scheduled to be completed in 2016. The bridge represents a major investment by our government in regional infrastructure.

Another major investment in rural infrastructure by our government is being made in the replacement of the Sir Robert Bond Bridge. Just last week, we awarded a tender for construction of the new Bond Bridge, which is the only east-west highway link that crosses the Exploits. Budget 2015 allocates $5.3 million for this construction, with subsequent allocations over the next two years and an anticipated total cost of the project to be approximately $22.4 million.

Other notable bridge projects currently underway include:

• $530,000 contract awarded last week for upgrades to the bridge at Coal Brook;
• $1 million replacement of the Northeast Trepassey Bridge;
• Bridge replacement at Gull Island in Conception Bay North; and
• New O�Donnell�s Bridge in St. Mary�s Bay, which is anticipated to be complete by the fall and represents a $2.9 million investment.

Also of note Mr. Speaker, a tender for the construction of a six-lane bridge at Topsail Road on Team Gushue Highway will be called this summer.

Mr. Speaker, more than $660 million is being invested this year in roads, schools, health care facilities and municipal infrastructure projects � an investment that supports the rural areas of our province and contributes to economic development. The bridge projects underway are an important part of this activity and we will continue to make the necessary investments to replace and revitalize them throughout the province.

Thank you.