No. H099/03
For release September 5, 2003

OPENING OF FIRST PHASE OF 
TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY PROJECT NEAR VIRDEN

VIRDEN, MANITOBA - Motorists, commercial truckers and citizens in Manitoba will benefit from the opening of a new, twinned section of the Trans-Canada Highway, near Virden. Completion of the new lanes was announced today by John Harvard, MP for Charleswood - St. James - Assiniboia, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, and Manitoba Transportation and Government Services Minister Scott Smith.

The $12 million Highway 1 project was supported with $5 million from the federal government as a contribution through the Canada/Manitoba Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP) and a previous federal and provincial highway program (Strategic Highway Improvement Program). It involved twinning approximately 12 kilometres of roadway, starting 1.2 kilometres west of Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 83 North, to Scallion Creek, near Virden. The project also included intersection improvements at the junction of PTH 83 and the Trans-Canada Highway, and installation of a new concrete box culvert at Scallion Creek. The Trans-Canada Highway is the main east-west corridor in Manitoba and is the primary route for commercial traffic across the province.

“This highway improvement project has been a significant step toward improving Manitoba’s highways,” said Mr. Harvard, “as it will enhance both public safety and the local economy.”

“I am pleased that funds from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program were used to support this important highway improvement project,” said Mr. Collenette. “This project will improve the flow of traffic and enhance safety on a well-travelled section of the National Highway System.”

“It is very exciting to be able to open this new, twinned portion of the Trans-Canada Highway, which is a vital transport and tourism route and is part of the world’s longest stretch of paved highway,” said Minister Smith. “I am pleased we are also working to improve our transportation infrastructure, through SHIP, on Highway 16 which is another key investment in maintaining our provincial road system.”

Under the Canada/Manitoba SHIP agreement, the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba will provide joint funding of $40.4 million until March 2006 for highway improvement projects in Manitoba. The Canada/Manitoba SHIP agreement, signed January 24, 2002, is part of the national $600 million SHIP program announced in April 2001.

Federal funding for this project is built into the existing financial framework.

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