No. H 169/07
For release September 7, 2007
CHELSEA, QUEBEC — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; Mr. Benoît Pelletier, Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region and MNA for Chapleau, on behalf of Ms. Julie Boulet, Quebec Minister of Transportation; and Ms. Stéphanie Vallée, MNA for Gatineau, broke ground to announce the beginning of construction of the Highway 5 extension in the Outaouais Region.
"As we announced last November, Canada's New Government keeps its word – construction of the Highway 5 extension is set to begin," said Minister Cannon. "Highway 5 is a priority for me and for residents of the Outaouais Region. Its extension will contribute to economic growth and will foster the development of tourism in the Outaouais Region."
"The announcement of the start of construction of the Highway 5 extension to Chelsea is excellent news for our region and will significantly increase road safety in this area," said Minister Pelletier. "This project will also strengthen social and economic links between rural and urban communities, which are so essential to the growth of the Outaouais."
"Today's announcement is about more than a road. It represents a means of improving the quality of life of residents in my riding, and promoting regional economic development. I am proud of our government’s contribution to this project," said Ms. Vallée.
Today's ceremony marks the beginning of construction on a 2.5-km segment in the Municipality of Chelsea from Tulip Valley extending northward.
The cost of building the 2.5-km segment has been estimated by Transports Québec at $27 million. The eligible costs for this construction project will be funded in equal parts by the two levels of government as part of the Agreement Regarding the Improvement of the Quebec Portion of the Road Network in the National Capital Region.
The construction work in the municipality of Chelsea involves building an interchange, including two overpasses at the end of Highway 5 in Chelsea (Tulip Valley sector) and a four-lane divided extension of Highway 5 in a rural area. This work will have no impact on the Gatineau Park area.
Funding for this segment will help accomplish all the necessary work to complete construction. Transports Québec has already acquired the grassy right-of-way to extend Highway 5. Deforestation work is scheduled to begin on September 9 and construction of the new segment is expected to be complete in the fall of 2009.
On November 15, 2006, the governments of Canada and Quebec announced an investment of $32 million – $27 million for the construction of the new 2.5-km segment and $5 million for studies and analyses for another 6.5-km segment. The new segment of Highway 5 will consist of a four-lane divided highway.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Véronique Milot
Press Secretary Office of the Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region and MNA for Chapleau
819-246-4558
Danny Kingsberry
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Georges Lafontaine
Political Advisor Office of the MNA for Gatineau
819-568-3356
Stéphane Lauzon
Head of Partner and User Liaison ServicesTransports Québec
819-772-3107, ext. 259
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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