No. H 167/09
For release - December 4, 2009
CHELSEA, QUEBEC — The governments of Canada and Quebec are today announcing the opening of a 2.5-kilometre section of highway in the Municipality of Chelsea between Tulip Valley and Meech Creek.
The work involved building an interchange, including two overpasses, at the end of the existing Highway 5 (Tulip Valley sector), as well as a four-lane divided extension of highway in a rural area.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to see the progress achieved on the Highway 5 project," said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region and Member of Parliament for Pontiac. "Completing Highway 5 in the Outaouais Region is a priority for local residents. It will help significantly reduce traffic on Highway 105, increase road safety, and contribute to the economic growth and development of tourism in the region."
"The extension of Highway 5 is a major road project for the citizens of the Outaouais. In addition to improving traffic flow for users, it contributes to the social and economic development of the region," said Norman MacMillan, Minister for Transport, Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Papineau. "The completion of the first section of this important highway project is testimony to the Government of Quebec's desire to improve the quality of life of Quebecers by making quality infrastructure available to them while stimulating regional economic activity and tourism."
"The completion of the extension of Highway 5 is a positive response from the government to the repeated requests expressed by the people, municipality and socioeconomic stakeholders," added Stéphanie Vallée, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Gatineau and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Quebec. "This project will improve user safety and will help the regional economy by facilitating access to small and medium enterprises, tourist sites and the region's many holiday resorts. Once the three sections are complete, this highway will become a vital artery that will ensure a rapid link between the municipalities of Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais and Gatineau, and access to La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau will also be greatly improved."
The total cost of building the 2.5-kilometre segment has been estimated by Transports Québec at $27 million. The governments of Canada and Quebec funded eligible costs of the project equally under the Agreement between the Government of Quebec and the National Capital Commission Regarding the Improvement of the Quebec Portion of the Road Network in the National Capital Region.
In addition, on August 14, 2009, the governments of Canada and Quebec announced joint investments of $115 million for a second phase of the Highway 5 project, including a 6.5-kilometre, four-lane divided highway between Meech Creek and the Wakefield sector, and the construction of two interchanges and several bridges so that local traffic can move safely. Construction is scheduled to begin in the early winter of 2010, and the highway will open to traffic in 2012.
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