No. H101/02
For release September 13, 2002

$29.2 MILLION IN HIGHWAY
IMPROVEMENT FUNDING FOR NEW BRUNSWICK

DIEPPE, N.B. - Transport Minister David Collenette, together with Labour Minister and MP (Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe) Claudette Bradshaw, New Brunswick Transportation Minister Percy Mockler, and New Brunswick Minister of Family and Community Services Joan MacAlpine, today announced an agreement to provide joint funding of $29.2 million until March 2006 for highway improvement projects in New Brunswick.

This agreement is part of the $600 million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP) announced by Mr. Collenette in April 2001.

“I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is providing an additional $14.6 million in funding for New Brunswick highways through this agreement,” said Mr. Collenette. “Continuing the partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick is a very important element in making real improvements to our highway infrastructure.”

“Federal and provincial investment in highways is beneficial from both a safety and economic perspective,” said Mrs. Bradshaw. “SHIP will contribute to the Prime Minister’s commitment to completing the construction of a four-lane Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick on a 50-50 shared cost basis, announced on August 14.”

“I’m very pleased that the province and the federal government have been able to work together as partners to come to this agreement,” said Mr. Mockler. “All of these dollars will be invested in the province’s effort to complete the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway. The completion of this necessary work will increase safety, improve quality of life and help to grow the economy of New Brunswick.”

“The Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program complements the provincial government’s plan to bring greater prosperity to New Brunswickers by investing in key infrastructure such as the Trans-Canada Highway which connects all of New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada to the rest of North America,” said Ms MacAlpine.

In addition to the agreement, five construction projects on the Trans-Canada Highway Route 2 were announced:

• $10 million in joint funding will be allocated for the twinning of a 5.2 kilometre section of Route 2, and portions of a 28.5 kilometre by-pass south of Route 2, between Woodstock and Pokiok.
• $8.1 million in joint funding will be allocated for the twinning of a 3.4 kilometre section of Route 2, from a location approximately 1.5 kilometres west of the Longs Creek interchange, to the Route 2/Route 635 interchange. Ramps at the Route 2/Route 635 intersection will also be upgraded, and a service road will be constructed;
• $4.1 million in joint funding will be allocated for the construction of a new interchange and grade separation at the Route 2/Lockhart Mill road interchange at Jacksonville;
• $3.5 million in joint funding will be allocated for the construction of eastbound and westbound ramps that serve Route 2, at Edmundston; and
• $3.5 million in joint funding will be allocated for the replacement, relocation, and reconfiguration of two eastbound ramps that connect Route 2 and Route 110, in Florenceville.

The total contribution for improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick under SHIP is $29.2 million.

A backgrounder with further information on SHIP is attached.

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Contact: 

Anthony Polci 
Director of Communications 
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700

Tracey Burkhardt
Director of Communications
New Brunswick
Department of Transportation, Moncton
(506) 453-5634

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.  Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.

In the February 2000 Budget Speech, the Government of Canada committed to improve the economy and the quality of life for Canadians by investing up to $600 million over five years in highway infrastructure across Canada. In April 2001, Transport Canada announced the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP). The program has two components: a $500 million highway construction component and a $100 million national system integration component.

Under the program, $500 million, including $15 million in administrative costs, will be available to address the needs of Canada’s highways until March 2006. The program formally begins in fiscal year 2002-2003. The Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories to identify those parts of the national highway system that - because of growing traffic and increasing trade - need immediate attention. This will result in a safer and more efficient highway system for all Canadians.

An allocation formula has been developed to distribute the $485 million available to the provinces and territories under SHIP. The formula consists of a minimum of $4 million per jurisdiction plus a share based on population and a 50-50 cost-sharing ratio. Under this formula, the total federal allocation for New Brunswick is $14.6 million.

Environmental assessments that meet the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will be undertaken before the projects begin. The funding for the projects is conditional on the results of these assessments.

SHIP will also provide $100 million nationally to fund initiatives that better integrate the transportation system. These include the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems across Canada, improvements to border crossings and better transportation planning. Intelligent Transportation Systems include applications such as advanced systems for traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle operations, emergency response management and vehicle safety.

September 2002