No. H 211/07
For release - November 1, 2007

FOUR-LANE TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY IN NEW BRUNSWICK OPEN TO TRAFFIC

GRAND FALLS (NB) — New Brunswick reached a milestone today with the official opening of the last 98 kilometres of the four-lane Trans-Canada Highway (Route 2) in the province. The entire 516 kilometres of highway from the Nova Scotia border to the Quebec border is now a divided, four-lane highway, achieving long-held aspirations for increased safety and economic opportunity.

Among those attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick, the Honourable Denis Landry, Minister of Transportation of New Brunswick; the Honourable Ron Ouellette, New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Mike Allen, MP for Tobique-Mactaquac, and highway developer Brun-Way Construction Inc. representatives Robert Tozer, president and CEO of Atcon Group, and Harry Varjabedian, Project Director and Senior Vice-President, Construction, SNC-Lavalin.

"This highway from the Nova Scotia border to the Quebec border is a vital link in Canada's transportation network, helping to move people and goods more efficiently and with greater safety," said Minister Cannon. " The redevelopment of Route 2 is an excellent example of the success of our strategic infrastructure programs and how partnerships build a stronger, safer and better Canada."

"The four-lane Trans-Canada Highway is a road to self-sufficiency," said Premier Graham. "Seventy-five percent of our economy is export-based and we need to have strong strategic infrastructure to drive economic development. The new four-lane Trans-Canada is paving New Brunswick's way to a brighter, safer, self-sufficient future."

"The Province's goal was to bring all the benefits of a safer, more efficient highway to New Brunswickers," said Minister Landry. "I'm pleased that the project has also exemplified excellent partnership - between levels of government, and between the public and private sectors."

Under the contract to complete the highway, Brun-Way was responsible for the design, construction and financing of 98 kilometres of highway between Grand Falls and Woodstock, and the selected upgrade of 128 kilometres of existing four-lane highway by Nov. 1, 2007. Brun-Way committed to carrying out the work for a guaranteed maximum price of $543.8 million.

Brun-Way Highway Operations Inc. will also be responsible for the operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of 275 kilometres of highway between the Quebec border and Longs Creek, and Route 95, between Woodstock and the U.S. border, until 2033.

Eighty-one per cent of the labour, materials and supplies were sourced in New Brunswick. At peak construction, more than 1,100 construction workers were involved in the project.

Mr. Tozer said, "All those workers and the more than a dozen New Brunswick firms that were part of the team should be very proud of what they have achieved. This highway is world-class and it is a credit to all the people who helped make it happen."

Mr. Varjabedian said, "We are pleased to have delivered this important project for the people of New Brunswick on time and on budget, while ensuring it met the highest standards in quality and innovative technology for road construction."

In a statement, Riadh Ben Aissa, Executive Vice-President, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. said SNC-Lavalin is proud to have been associated with this landmark project, which will have a positive impact on road safety and on the local economy.

The Trans-Canada Highway Project was jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments through the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement for the Completion of the Twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick. The Government of Canada contributed $200 million toward the entire Route 2 corridor from the $2-billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

- 30 -

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.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.