No. H085/12
For release - August 3, 2012
SUDBURY, ONTARIO – The Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Member of Provincial Parliament for Sudbury, marked the completion of construction for the widening and realignment of Highway 69 today, from Highway 637 to Estaire, near Sudbury.
"The Harper Government is pleased to have invested in this important project that will benefit travellers using Highway 69," said Minister Baird. "As a gateway to Northern Ontario, Highway 69 is an important link in the Trans-Canada Highway, and these improvements will increase safety for local commuters and tourists, while enhancing economic growth in the region."
"Since 2003 our government has invested significantly in expansion projects through the Northern Highways Program, that are making our dream of a four-laned highway a reality," said Minister Bartolucci. "An expanded, modern Highway 69 will provide residents with a safer, more efficient drive and promote economic development in the North."
Highway 69 is a key route that connects rural communities, urban areas, First Nation communities and recreational areas. The new four-lane highway will allow for continued development and growth in the local tourism and recreation sectors. It will also improve travel times and road safety by reducing congestion and making passing easier.
Work on this project included construction of an underpass at Highway 637, and Ontario's first overhead wildlife crossing bridge, which is expected to reduce animal-vehicle collisions. The completion brings a section of realigned highway that bypasses a series of dangerous "S" curves into full operation.
The 13-kilometre corridor of new four-lane highway was funded jointly by the Governments of Canada and Ontario. The Government of Canada is providing up to $35.8 million towards this $68.2-million project through the Building Canada Fund. The Province of Ontario provided the balance of funding through the Northern Highways Program.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 focuses on creating new opportunities for jobs and growth, and ensuring long-term prosperity for Canadians. Strengthening infrastructure across the country is an important part of this plan. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership, and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery, with more than 765,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. Find out more about the opportunities in Economic Action Plan 2012 at www.budget.gc.ca/2012/home-accueil-eng.html.
Building Together is the Government of Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province's roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and post-secondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Ontario has invested over $75 billion in infrastructure since 2003 and plans to invest another $12.9 billion in 2012-2013. Building modern, efficient infrastructure has supported close to 100,000 jobs each year, on average, making Ontario's economy more productive and improving quality of life, now and in the future.
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Contacts:
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Laura Blondeau
Director of Communications
Minister's Office
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Queen's Park
416-327-1421
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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