GC004/11
For release - October 31, 2011
SAINT-JOSEPH-DE-BEAUCE, OCTOBER 31, 2011 — The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Minister of the Economic Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, together with the Member of the National Assembly for Beauce-Sud and Minister of Public Safety, Robert Dutil, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, Pierre Moreau, today opened the first section of the twinning project for the Robert Cliche Highway (A-73) between Sainte-Marie and Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce. Ministers Bernier and Dutil also participated in a ribbon cutting, accompanied by the mayor of Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, Michel Cliche.
"Our government is investing in infrastructure like this to boost the economy, improve traffic flow and increase the safety of road users in the region," said Minister Bernier. "This project is another example of how the Government of Canada, in partnership with Quebec, is getting concrete results for Canadians."
"This announcement brings to fruition our government's efforts and investments, and clearly shows our concern for providing citizens with a road infrastructure that is user-friendly, safe and that meets their needs. The Robert Cliche Highway twinning project will not only make it possible to greatly increase users' safety, but it will also benefit economic development in this beautiful, growing region," said Minister Dutil.
First begun in 2010, this new six-kilometre section, which starts 1.3 km south of the Calway Highway and extends as far as Highway 276 at Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, is the first in a series of five construction projects that will be carried out one after the other from south to north. A significant investment of $157 million, with $75 million coming from the federal government, will be necessary to complete this major project totalling 28.9 km.
"Today's announcement represents one more step towards completion of this long awaited project and is excellent news for the people of the Beauce region, who from now on will be able to travel in this area with peace of mind. Soon the Beauce region will enjoy a divided axial highway from one end of the region to the other," noted Minister Dutil.
– 30 –
Contacts:
Mathieu St-Pierre
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety
Telephone: 418-643-2112
Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions
of Quebec
Ottawa
Telephone: 613-991-0700
Andrée-Lyne Hallé
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport
Telephone: 418-643-6980
Audrey Gauvin
Regional Office for Chaudière-Appalaches
Ministère des Transports du Québec
Telephone: 418-839-5581
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
Telephone: 613-993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.
