14 August 2009
Chelsea, Quebec
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that the governments of Canada and Quebec are working together to extend Highway 5 in the Outaouais region.
“The Government of Canada is taking extraordinary and unprecedented action to stimulate the Canadian economy in this time of global economic instability. The extension of Highway 5, the largest infrastructure project in the Outaouais, will help the region’s economic development, create high-paying jobs and greatly enhance the quality of life and safety of residents of the Outaouais region,” said the Prime Minister. “This project has been made possible through the cooperation of the governments of Canada and Quebec. Working together allows us to stimulate the economy in these difficult times so that we can emerge from this global recession in the strongest position of any of the major industrialized countries.”
The work planned in this second phase of the Highway 5 project includes building 6.5 kilometres of four-lane divided highway between Meech Creek and Wakefield, as well as two interchanges and several bridges to ensure safety for local traffic. These upgrades will reduce gridlock and make the road safer while contributing to economic growth and fostering the development of tourism in the region.
The governments of Canada and Quebec will each contribute up to 50 percent of the eligible costs for this phase of the project. Construction is expected to begin in early winter 2010 and the segment should be open to traffic in 2012.
The Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure across Canada with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years.
