Projects possible thanks to federal Gas Tax Fund
January 26, 2015 – Kenora, Ontario – Infrastructure Canada
Residents of Northwestern Ontario are benefitting from improvements to their local roads thanks to investments from the federal Gas Tax Fund. In 2014, 113 essential local roads projects in 76 communities were completed, providing a smoother, safer ride to drivers in the Kenora and Thunder Bay areas.
Work included the construction of granular lifts to correct road grades, the usage of asphalt emulsion surface treatments to provide more waterproof and skid-resistant surfaces, and the employment of calcium chloride on freshly gravelled roads to manage dust, and guard against wear and tear. Patching work was also completed on many routes to fill potholes and restore road edges.
In some areas, workers installed ditches to allow for better drainage, culverts to allow for the compressive forces of road traffic, and gabion baskets to stabilize slopes around culverts and guard against erosion. Other road work included installing street, school crossing, speed and vehicle load signs, as well as removing roadside trees and brush to increase driver's visibility and reduce the formation of snow drifts.
"Our Government is pleased to provide small municipalities with flexible infrastructure funding that allows them to support projects that address the needs of their communities. These local road improvements, made possible through the federal Gas Tax Fund, are providing a safer and smoother ride for drivers, as well as protecting the environment by helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Looking ahead, our investments through the federal Gas Tax Fund will continue to generate economic growth and job creation across Ontario communities for years to come."
- The Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, Minister of Natural Resources, and Member of Parliament for Kenora
Vincent Rabault
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free 1-877-250-7154
Email: media@infc.gc.ca
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Website: Infrastructure Canada
