No. H115/11
For release - November 24, 2011
REGINA — Construction is complete and traffic is flowing today on the new $29-million Highway 1 and Lewvan Drive interchange in southwest Regina.
Ray Boughen, Member of Parliament for Palliser, joined Jim Reiter, Saskatchewan's Highways and Infrastructure Minister, today to mark the completion of construction and officially open the new interchange.
"Our government is pleased to have invested in this important project that will improve safety and the overall flow of traffic along this busy corridor," said MP Boughen. "This interchange project is an excellent example of our commitment to improving highway infrastructure here in Saskatchewan and right across Canada."
"A long-term safety concern for motorists at this busy intersection has now been addressed," said Minister Reiter. "As commercial and residential development at this location continues to expand and traffic volumes continue to increase, we now have the infrastructure in place to provide safer and more efficient travel for motorists."
This project is jointly funded by the provincial and federal governments. Through the Building Canada Fund, the Government of Canada is contributing 50 per cent of the total eligible project costs, with the province providing the remaining funding.
Completed work at the intersection of Lewvan Drive and Highway 1 includes the construction and paving of overpass embankments and ramps, the bridge structure and service roads. A temporary paved surface has been laid on the ramps and bridge to ensure the interchange is in service before winter. In the spring of 2012 additional paving will be done to complete the project. Over the next month permanent guard rails, overhead signage and lighting will be installed.
The Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan provided almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years and accelerated the $33-billion Building Canada Plan. This will contribute to long-term economic growth in communities across Canada through investments in public infrastructure, such as roads, water treatment, green energy and transit.
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Contacts:
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Kirsten Leatherdale
Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
306-787-8484
Cell: 306-536-9692
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
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, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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