News Release

November 19, 2004

IMPROVED ROAD SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY FOR GREATER MONCTON AREA AND MARYSVILLE (FREDERICTON)

$49.5 million from Canada and New Brunswick,
and Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe

Moncton, New Brunswick - Two new urban bypass projects will provide increased road safety and efficiency in the Greater Moncton Area and Marysville (Fredericton) by reducing traffic congestion, enhancing connections to the downtown core and increasing access to major trade routes.

Premier Bernard Lord, Minister Andy Scott (Indian and Northern Affairs), Minister of State Claudette Bradshaw (Human Resources Development), and provincial Minister Paul Robichaud (Transportation) were joined by Mayor Lorne Mitton (Moncton), Mayor Clarence Sweetland (Riverview), and Mayor Yvon Lapierre (Dieppe) today to announce funding details for the construction of these urban bypass projects.

“Investing and improving strategic infrastructure is very important to support the growth and the prosperity of our province. Building strategic infrastructure is an important element of our prosperity plan,” said Premier Lord. “Today’s announcement shows the strong commitment of the Government of New Brunswick in supporting the economic development of Moncton, Riverview, Dieppe and Fredericton.”

The federal and provincial governments will each contribute up to $18.5 million on a cost shared basis for these projects: up to $7 million for Phase 1 of the Nashwaak/Marysville urban bypass; and up to $11.5 million each for Phase 1 of the Greater Moncton/Riverview/Dieppe urban bypass. Moncton will contribute $7.4 million, Riverview will contribute $3.5 million, and Dieppe will contribute $1.67 million to their respective projects.

“These projects support our commitment to communities of all sizes,” said Minister Scott. “Improving the quality of life of Canadians here in New Brunswick and across the country is a priority for this government – we are making progress in building our New Deal for Cities and Communities.”

“I am pleased to be here in Moncton to see these projects move forward,” said Minister Bradshaw. “These projects will have a long-term positive impact on each of these communities.”

"These road improvements will contribute significantly to the economic growth of the Dieppe, Moncton and Riverview area as well as the area of Marysville/Nashwaak. They will help make New Brunswick an ideal location for the development of business activities," said provincial Transportation Minister Paul Robichaud.

Phase 1 of the Greater Moncton/Riverview/Dieppe Bypass will improve traffic flow on the Greater Moncton Area roadway network, enhance connections to the new bridge over the Petitcodiac River, improve the flow of traffic between municipalities, and provide more efficient access to the Province’s primary highway network. This bypass consists of three sub-components located in the municipalities of Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe.

“This is great news. We are appreciative of the efforts made by both the provincial and federal governments. The completion of this work will see the new bridge between Moncton and Riverview properly connected to the City street system going northerly to Vaughan Harvey, and also easterly to both Dieppe and the Trans Canada Highway,” said Mayor Lorne Mitton.

"I am very pleased with today’s announcement of infrastructure funds for the connector road to the new bridge in our community. This project will support development in Riverview and will connect an existing commercial area to the business center in Moncton. We look forward to the contribution this project will make to continued progress and the growth in Riverview and the Region as a whole,” said Mayor Clarence Sweetland.

“The City of Dieppe is pleased with the federal government’s support for this important project of a bypass for Dieppe,” said Mayor Yvon Lapierre. “This north-south link is important for the Town’s economic development. Dieppe experiences a phenomenal economic expansion and this road will allow the transportation of the municipalities’ goods and services towards outer markets.”

Phase 1 of the Nashwaak/Marysville Bypass project will contribute to increased road safety for truck traffic and enhance pedestrian safety in the Marysville community. The bypass includes the construction of a 6 km access controlled highway to bypass a portion of Route 8 that currently runs through a residential and business area of Marysville, north of Fredericton.

All projects are subject to federal requirements under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Federal funds will come from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), through which the Government of Canada collaborates with provincial, territorial and municipal governments as well as the private sector, to meet strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. The CSIF supports large-scale strategic infrastructure projects that improve quality of life and further sustainable growth. Since 1994, the Government of Canada has committed $12 billion toward over 20,000 infrastructure projects in Canada’s communities. This should leverage over $30 billion from all partners.

Through the New Deal for Cities and Communities, the Government of Canada is taking constructive steps to engage and consult with stakeholders, to continue to promote new partnerships between federal, provincial, and municipal governments and to deliver stable, predictable, long-term funding for cities and communities in urban and rural areas.

Contacts:

Campbell Morrison
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Scott
(819) 997-0002

Chisholm Pothier
Office of the Premier
(506) 444-2286

Anne Basque
Executive Assistant
Office of Minister Bradshaw
(506) 851-3310

Mona Chiasson
Communications
New Brunswick Department of Transportation
(506) 453-3091

Infrastructure Canada
(613) 948-1148

BACKGROUNDER

New Brunswick Urban Bypass Projects

The Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick have finalized details on federal and provincial investments towards two New Brunswick Urban Bypass projects including Phase 1 of the Nashwaak/Marysville Bypass and Phase 1 of the Greater Moncton/Riverview/Dieppe Bypass.

The federal government will contribute up to a maximum of $18.5 million. The provincial government will also contribute $18.5 million. The Government of Canada's contribution will be made through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF).

Phase 1 of the Nashwaak/Marysville Bypass

By providing a safe alternative route for commercial truck traffic, upon completion this project is expected to reduce traffic congestion, enhance road and pedestrian safety in the Marysville community and provide better links to interprovincial and international trade corridors.

The bypass project includes the construction of a new Route 8 bypass highway that extends along the east side of the Nashwaak River beginning at the existing Route 8 at Bridge Street to the existing Route 8 in Penniac. This will entail building a 6 km fully access controlled highway as well as a new bridge across the Nashwaak River at Penniac.

Route 8 is a provincial arterial highway that connects northern and central New Brunswick to Fredericton and the Trans-Canada Highway. The portion of Route 8 that will be bypassed runs through a residential area that has numerous at-grade accesses and intersections combined with a reduced speed limit. Through traffic largely consists of trucks, in particular logging trucks, which pose a safety risk to residential traffic and pedestrians.

The total cost of this project is estimated at $14 million. The Governments of Canada and New Brunswick will share these costs, with the federal government contributing up to 50 per cent, or $7 million of the costs. This project is currently in the planning/pre-design phase and construction is scheduled to be completed in late 2009.

Phase 1 of the Greater Moncton/Riverview/Dieppe Bypass

By providing additional capacity to the Greater Moncton transportation network, upon completion, this access controlled bypass will allow traffic to move between and around the three municipalities more efficiently and safely. The Greater Moncton Area bypass consists of three sub-project bypasses located in the municipalities of Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe.

The Moncton Bypass segment involves the extension of two boulevards (Vaughan Harvey and Assomption) to connect with the new bridge under construction across the Petitcodiac River. These connections will allow traffic to bypass a portion of Main Street as well as several other congested downtown streets providing better access to several arterial routes throughout the City. The Riverview Bypass segment will connect to the south side of the new bridge and will provide a bypass around the southern portion of the Town that will connect to Findlay Boulevard and the Petitcodiac River Causeway. The Dieppe Bypass segment will extend Dieppe Boulevard from Englehard Street to Melanson Road allowing traffic to bypass the heavily congested Champlain/Acadie intersection and access Route 15 and Route 2 easily.

The total cost of this project is estimated at approximately $36 million. The Governments of Canada and New Brunswick will each contribute up to $11.5 million toward this project. Moncton will contribute $7.4 million, Riverview will contribute $3.5 million and Dieppe will contribute $1.67 million to the projects in their municipalities. The Cities of Moncton and Dieppe plan for project completion in late 2006 and the Town of Riverview targets completion in 2007.

All projects are subject to federal requirements under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Detailed maps of the Greater Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe sub-project bypasses are available upon request.

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