London, Ontario, March 8, 2013 – Road and bridge work will soon be underway in Canada's "Forest City,"
thanks to funding announced today by the Government of Canada and the City of London.
"With the spring construction season just around the corner, there is no better time to celebrate road and bridge upgrades that will create local jobs and long-term economic growth right here in London,"
said Susan Truppe, Member of Parliament for London North Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "Not only will these investments improve commutes and road safety, they will also reduce future maintenance costs and save taxpayers' money."
Mayor Fontana believes Londoners understand the importance of maintaining the city's infrastructure and the benefits of keeping roads and bridges in good repair. He said, "Londoners will also recognize the value of this investment. Infrastructure is literally the base our city is built upon and an essential service – it cannot be ignored. It is critical that municipal governments have the funding required to keep streets and bridges safe for the people and goods travelling through our city. The 10 million from the Federal Gas Tax Fund will help London repair and upgrade a number of streets. It will create jobs in a challenging economy. This is again a prime example of the excellent outcomes that are achieved when governments acknowledge challenges and needs and then work together to find a solution."
As part of London's 2013 arterial road and bridge rehabilitation programs, multiple roads including busy Wellington Road, Westminster Drive, Commissioners Road, Pond Mills Road and Southdale Road will be improved. All road sections will be resurfaced, except Wellington Road at the Glanworth Curve, where a rumble strip will be installed to improve safety.
West Brough's Bridge will also be rehabilitated. Structural steel repairs, sandblasting and electrical work will be performed, and a new concrete deck, sidewalk and railing system will be built. The West Brough's Bridge has been carrying southbound traffic on Richmond Street over the Thames River since 1962.
Together, these initiatives will improve the bridge's structural integrity and lifespan and provide safer and smoother roads for commuters and travellers. They will also create local jobs and deliver a boost to the local economy. Work is set to begin in spring 2013 and will be completed in fall 2013.
The City of London will be using $10 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund transfers towards these projects. The total cost for road improvements is $7.5 million, and the cost of rehabilitating the West Brough's Bridge is $2.5 million.
The Gas Tax Fund, part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, provides long-term funding to help every municipality across the country build and revitalize public infrastructure. The Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion to date in municipal infrastructure through this Fund alone, which is now a permanent transfer of $2 billion per year. Between 2010 and 2014, the City of London will receive more than $86 million from the Gas Tax Fund to improve local infrastructure.
"Canada's Gas Tax Fund acknowledges that all orders of government must work together to address the pressing need for infrastructure investment in our municipalities,"
said Russ Powers, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). "Stable and predictable, the Gas Tax Fund is supporting long-term investment in local priority projects right across Ontario."
Canada's Economic Action Plan provides new opportunities for growth, job creation and long-term prosperity. 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 900,000 net new jobs created since July 2009.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada.
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Glynis Tucker
City of London
519-661-2500 extension 8436
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
