No. H 171/08
For release - July 23, 2008
FREDERICTON - Federal and provincial officials broke ground on the first phase of the Nashwaak/Marysville Bypass on Route 8 today.
An excavator turned the sod in the Fredericton neighbourhood of Marysville where the 36-kilometre project begins. Funding for the project has been made possible through a five-year, $214-million commitment by the governments of Canada and New Brunswick.
"Once again this project demonstrates our continued commitment to delivering results in the transportation area and providing the best surface transportation system for Canada and Canadians," said Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "This new section will provide a faster, safer and more efficient route for Canadians."
The new access-controlled highway will bypass the existing Route 8 for a distance of 36 kilometres from Marysville to South Portage along the east side of the Nashwaak River. It will eliminate through trucking in Marysville, which is primarily a residential community. It will also relieve congestion on Route 8 and Bridge Street in Marysville, and provide a faster, safer and more efficient route for through traffic.
"We are pleased that construction on the long-awaited Nashwaak/Marysville bypass is finally beginning," said the Honourable Denis Landry, New Brunswick's Minister of Transportation. "When this important piece of strategic infrastructure is complete, Route 8 will be a safer, more efficient highway that supports economic development and growth in central and northeastern New Brunswick."
The $124 million Nashwaak/Marysville bypass project includes two interchanges and seven structures, as well as wildlife fencing and climbing lanes for trucks. It is scheduled for completion in 2015.
Improving the safety and efficiency of Route 8 also supports the province's goal to be self-sufficient by 2026. Route 8 is an arterial highway that connects communities in central and northeastern New Brunswick to the City of Fredericton and the Trans-Canada Highway. It is the principal access route for the area's resource-based economy, especially the forest industry.
Federal funding for the first phase of the project comes from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund. This fund supports large-scale strategic infrastructure projects of major national and regional significance in areas that improve the quality of life of Canadians and sustain economic growth. In Budget 2006, the Government of Canada committed $2 billion over four years to renew this fund, which will bring the total to $6 billion once complete.
Federal funding for the second phase of the project will come from the $33-billion Building Canada Plan, which provides long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada.
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Contacts:
Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Tracey Burkhardt
Director of Communications
New Brunswick Department of Transportation
506-453-5634
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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