Quebec City, Quebec, November 26, 2010 – Quebec City residents and tourists can get around more easily now in Haute-Saint-Charles thanks to a new east-west road link. The artery, which connects Lepire Street to Valcartier Boulevard, received a joint Canada-Quebec contribution of $4 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. This is a project worth $6 million.
The inauguration of this axial highway took place in the presence of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister for La Francophonie, Minister responsible of the Quebec City region, Daniel Petit, Member of Parliament for Charlesbourg–Haute-Saint-Charles, Michel Pigeon, Member of the National Assembly for Charlesbourg and Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec City.
"This new east-west link, anticipated for the past 35 years, will improve the quality of life for residents in the Quebec City region by improving driving conditions and road safety. I am proud of the Government of Canada's support for this project, which will benefit the local and regional economy," declared Daniel Petit.
"We are proud to have contributed to the project, which will greatly improve connections between the northern sector of Quebec City and the Valcartier military base, as well as improve access to the Henri IV highway. The longevity of our infrastructure depends on maintaining and upgrading it with a view to sustainable development," said MNA Michel Pigeon.
"In August 2009, we announced that the undertaking of this project was a priority for my team," declared Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec City. "We have kept that promise. Going from the design to the construction of this street in such a short period a time was a technical challenge that was undertaken with success by the City's engineering department. Over the next few days, citizens will finally be able to use this route, thus eliminating the need for a long detour between the east and west ends of the borough," added Mr. Labeaume.
The federal government's $2 million contribution comes from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, whose objective is to stimulate the economy by funding projects to be completed by March 31, 2011. The $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, included in Canada's Economic Action Plan, has provided funding for about 4,000 projects across Canada.
The Quebec government's $2 million contribution under its Plan québécois des infrastructures was topped up in January 2009 and its envelope is now close to $42 billion, which will be used to renew large parts of Quebec's infrastructure over the next five years.
For more information on investment in infrastructure, visit http://www.creatingjobs.gc.ca/ and http://www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca/.
For additional information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, see the website at http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/.
For additional information on the Plan québécois des infrastructures, see the website at www.tresor.gouv.qc.ca/fr/infrastructure.
Contacts:
Frédérik Boisvert
Director, Policy and Communications, Quebec Region
Office of Canada's Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Jimmy Laforge
Communications Director
Office of the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister for La Francophonie, Minister responsible for the Quebec City region
613-851-6856
Anne-Marie Mongrain
Political Attaché
Office of the Member of the National Assembly for Charlesbourg
418-644-9240
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
Toll-free 1-877-250-7154
Paul-Christian Nolin
Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor of Quebec City
418-641-6434
