St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, April 24, 2008 - Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will soon see improvements to their roads and highways thanks to the first federal payment made today under the Provincial-Territorial (PT) Base Funding Agreement of Building Canada, the Government of Canada's infrastructure plan. The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, along with the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Transportation and Works for Newfoundland and Labrador, participated in today's announcement.
This year, Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador will collectively provide $50 million towards the province's annual capital plan, which includes a number of highway infrastructure upgrades throughout the province. Funding will go towards the next phase of widening and hard-surfacing the Trans Labrador Highway, a new bypass road at Daniel's Harbour, as well as rehabilitation on several routes throughout the province, including Route 2, Route 430 and sections of the Trans-Canada Highway.
"These highway initiatives show our government's commitment to strengthening core infrastructure clear across Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Hearn. "We are investing in initiatives that will have a tangible impact on quality of life for people in these communities, and will help keep our people and goods moving safely and on time."
"The provincial government is very pleased to contribute our half of this $50 million fund for road infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador and we're eager to get started on the projects," said Minister Whalen. "This year a record $182 million is being invested in our province's roads, including an unprecedented $73 million in the Provincial Roads Improvement Program."
The funding follows the signing of a PT Base Funding Agreement between the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. As part of the Agreement, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will receive $25 million annually from the Government of Canada, for a total of $175 million through to 2014 for core infrastructure priorities that are identified in the annual capital plan of the Province. The initiatives announced today are being funded from the first year annual payment of the program. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will match the federal contribution.
Money from the PT Base Funding Agreement will flow up-front and on a regular, predictable basis. Provinces and territories will be able to pool, bank, borrow against and cash manage these financial resources.
Through its unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country.
For further information on the Building Canada plan, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.
For further information contact :
Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
David Salter
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation & Works
709-729-3015
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
A set of highway initiatives will be jointly funded between the Government of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador under the Provincial-Territorial Base Funding Agreement, which is part of Building Canada, the Government of Canada's infrastructure plan.
The list of proposed highway upgrades and their respective, approximate distances are as follows:
- Rehabilitation of the Trans-Canada Highway between Thomas's Pond and Holyrood (approximately 25 km)
- Rehabilitation of Route 2 along Pitts Memorial Drive (approximately 10 km)
- Rehabilitation of the Trans-Canada Highway between Port Blandford and Terra Nova Park Boundary (approximately 8 km)
- Rehabilitation of the Lewin Parkway in Corner Brook (approximately 4.3 km)
- Rehabilitation of the Trans-Canada Highway between Manitoba Drive and Thorburn Lake (approximately 15 km)
- Rehabilitation of 2 sections of Route 100 along Argentia Access Road (approximately 4.5 km through Dunville and 5 km between the Trans-Canada Highway and Argentia)
- Construction of a new bypass road on Route 430 along the Northern peninsula Highway at Daniel's Harbour (approximately 4.5 km)
- Rehabilitation of Route 430 between Daniel's Harbour and River of Ponds (approximately 32 km)
- Rehabilitation of Route 430 through the community of St. Paul's (approximately 3 km)
- Rehabilitation of the Trans-Canada Highway between Salmonier Line and Whitbourne (34 lane km)
- Rehabilitation of the Trans-Canada Highway between GrandFalls, Windsor and Badger (approximately 12 lane km)
- Rehabilitation of the Trans-Canada Highway between Terra Nova Park west boundary and Benton (approximately 24 km)
- Upgrades to the Trans Labrador Highway between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Wabush (535 km)
