No. H105/03 For release September 22, 2003
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND PROVINCE OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR CONTRIBUTE $13.8 MILLION TO TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
OTTAWA — Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and MP
(Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte) Gerry Byrne, on behalf of Transport Minister David
Collenette, together with Newfoundland and Labrador Works, Services and Transportation
Minister Jim Walsh, today announced that the Government of Canada and the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador will contribute joint funding of $13.8 million for three highway
improvement projects in the province. The funding falls under the Canada/Newfoundland and
Labrador Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program
(SHIP).
“The Trans-Canada Highway is essential to trade and tourism in this province,” said
Minister Byrne. “The improvements made to the highway infrastructure in this province
will enhance public safety for the benefit of residents and visitors to Newfoundland and
Labrador.”
“I am pleased that federal funds from the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program are being
used to upgrade the Trans-Canada Highway,” said Mr. Collenette. “These improvements to the
Trans-Canada Highway are vital to the economy and enhance not only safety but the capacity to move
goods quickly and efficiently.”
“I am thrilled we are moving forward with these projects,” said Minister Walsh. “With this
funding we will be able to replace two bridges along the highway and carry out much needed
rehabilitation along one of the worst sections of the Trans-Canada Highway in this province.”
The three projects will result in improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway in Newfoundland and
Labrador. In the first project, the existing South Branch River Bridge, built in 1952, will be
replaced, and 1.5 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway will be realigned. The new bridge, at
an estimated cost of $4 million, will be able to withstand heavier loads.
In the second project, 42 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway, stretching from the
Chance Cove intersection to Goobies, will be rehabilitated. Work will be done to improve
drainage, seven kilometres of climbing lanes will be added, and an interchange will be
constructed at Arnold’s Cove. The estimated cost is $8.8 million.
The third project will replace the Rattling Brook (Penstock) Bridge on the Trans-Canada
Highway near Norris Arm. The original bridge, constructed in 1969, will be rebuilt to improve
safety. The estimated cost is $1 million.
Under the SHIP agreement, the Government of Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and
Labrador are providing joint funding of $23 million until 2006 for highway improvement projects
in the province. The Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador SHIP agreement, signed September 18, 2002,
is part of the national $600 million SHIP program announced by Mr. Collenette in April 2001.
Federal funding for this project is built into the existing financial framework.
A backgrounder with further information on SHIP is attached.
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Contact:
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Amy Butcher
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport
Ottawa, ON
(613) 991-0700
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Lynn Evans
Director of Communications
Department of Works, Services
and Transportation
St. John's, NL
(709) 729-3015
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Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
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BACKGROUNDER
STRATEGIC HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM – NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
In the February 2000 budget, 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 Minister David Collenette 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 SHIP, $500 million, including $15 million in administrative costs, is available
to address the needs of Canada’s highways until March 2006. The program formally began 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 for road construction 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 Newfoundland and Labrador is $11.5
million. Under previous joint highway funding agreements since 1993, Transport Canada contributed
$574 million to Newfoundland and Labrador. This brings the total funding from Transport Canada to
$585.5 million.
An environmental assessment that meets the requirements of the Canadian Environmental
Assessment Act will be undertaken before projects begin. Funding for the projects is
conditional on the results of this assessment.
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.
SHIP continues the Government of Canada’s long tradition of highway funding that started
more than 80 years ago. In fact, Transport Canada will have invested more than $1.7 billion
between 1993 and 2003 to improve highways across Canada. The federal government also invests
in transportation-related infrastructure through other programs such as the Canada Strategic
Infrastructure Fund and the Border Infrastructure Fund.
For more information on the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, please visit
www.tc.gc.ca/SHIP/menu.htm.
For more information on the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Border Infrastructure Fund, please visit
www.infrastructurecanada.gc.ca.
September 2003
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