Busy, dusty connector road will soon make way for smoother, paved road
County of Barrhead, Alberta, June 21, 2013 – Residents and business owners will soon benefit from improvements to Township Road 604 thanks in part to a contribution of more than $1 million from the federal Gas Tax Fund transfer.
"Our government is proud to invest in this project that will create jobs, generate economic growth, and contribute to Canada's long-term prosperity,"
said the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Member of Parliament for Yellowhead, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. "With a new construction season underway, there is no better time to celebrate road upgrades that will support stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities."
"Albertans depend on our transportation network to get them home safely, get them to work and school on time, and get products to and from market,"
said the Honourable Ric McIver, Minister of Alberta Transportation. "I commend the federal government and the County for supporting the upgrade to Township Road 604, to better handle traffic volumes and provide an improved driving surface for motorists. This project reflects Alberta's priorities of investing in communities and building Alberta's economic future."
"We cannot afford to do this type of project without help from our friends, and thanks to financial help from our federal government, we are able to make the County of Barrhead a better place,"
said Bill Lee, Reeve of the County of Barrhead.
Township Road 604 is presently a gravel road that is not suitable for the heavy traffic it receives.
The Government of Canada is providing $1,320,567 from the Gas Tax Fund towards base preparation and gravelling work taking place this summer. This work is needed in order to pave the road between Highway 769 and Highway 33 in 2014. The County of Barrhead is providing $264,103, towards total project cost of $1,584,670.
The federal Gas Tax Fund transfer provides long-term funding to municipalities across the country to build and revitalize their local infrastructure. The Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion to date in municipal infrastructure through this program, and passed legislation to make it a permanent transfer of $2 billion per year. In Alberta, the program currently provides over $199.5 million of predictable, long-term funding annually to help municipalities build and revitalize public infrastructure. As part of Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government committed to index the Gas Tax Fund to provide additional funding for communities, starting in 2014.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. 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 1 million net new jobs created since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, supports Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada.
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, Communities, Minister of the Canada Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
613-991-0700
John Lear
Public Affairs Officer
Communications Branch
Alberta Transportation
780-422-7080
Mark Oberg
Manager
County of Barrhead
780-674-3331
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
