No. H133/10
For release - November 23, 2010
ST. JOHN’S — The governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador today announced that a contract valued at $276,000 has been awarded to C.W. Parsons Limited to clear the highway corridor for the Team Gushue Highway extension. This marks the first step toward the construction of this important piece of regional highway infrastructure.
“This is a project that people of the region have been wanting to see completed for a long time,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister of Transportation and Works. “Once completed, this highway will greatly enhance the movement of people and goods throughout the most highly populated region of our province. It will be good for commuters, good for businesses and good for the economy of the region.”
The eligible construction costs of the Team Gushue Highway extension project, including this contract for the clearing of the highway corridor, are being shared equally between the federal and provincial governments under the federal Building Canada Fund. The provincial government will assume additional costs associated with project design, contract administration and land acquisition.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to invest in the Team Gushue Highway project. We are committed to working with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador for real results,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, Regional Minister for Nova Scotia and Minister responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This highway expansion is further proof that our government is doing what it takes to put people to work, and create infrastructure that will make our country and our economy stronger.”
The current contract is for the clearing of trees and shrubs from the right of way for the new highway route. The Department of Transportation and Works plans to call tenders to begin construction of the roadway itself in the coming months. It is expected that the Team Gushue Highway extension will take three years to complete. Once completed, the City of St. John’s will assume ownership of the highway.
The highway extension will complete a link across the west end of the City of St. John’s, connecting the Outer Ring Road in the north with the Robert E. Howlett Memorial Drive in the south. Once completed, it will provide people of the region with better access to important regional infrastructure and services and relieve traffic congestion on major urban routes in the region.
“We are very pleased to see the provincial and federal governments proceeding with work on this critical transportation link,” said St. John’s Mayor Denis O’Keefe. “The City of St. John’s, as well as the entire region, will reap the benefits once the highway is completed in its entirety and the City takes over snow clearing and maintenance responsibilities. We have one of the fastest growing economies in Canada and developing our infrastructure is of vital importance as we work to capitalize on future economic opportunities and provide our residents with strong transportation networks.”
The Department of Transportation and Works will hold two open house public information sessions to provide an opportunity for people to view details of the project and to ask questions of department officials pertaining to project implementation. The sessions will be held on November 29, 2010, at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium, Pippy Park, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Government of Canada is taking important steps to support economic growth. Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides for almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years and the acceleration of the $33-billion Building Canada Plan, which will help address needs in communities across Canada and contribute to long-term economic growth through investments in public infrastructure such as roads, water treatment plants, green energy and transit.
Through Budget 2010: The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future, the provincial government has allocated a record $1 billion for provincial infrastructure investments, for a total infrastructure strategy valued at more than $5 billion over the next several years. As part of this investment, $177.7 million in provincial government funding is allocated for road and bridge expenditures throughout the province. This funding will be supplemented by an additional $57.9 million in federal government funding for a total road and bridge investment of $235.6 million in 2010-11.
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