The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure:

Speaker, I was pleased to join our Premier and federal ministers yesterday to announce significant infrastructure upgrades that will increase traffic capacity and improve safety and security on our province’s highways.

With support of approximately $306 million between both governments, approximately 55 kilometres of divided highway will be added along the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) to help increase traffic capacity and ensure better separation between opposing traffic lanes.

The project will include a 15 kilometre section between Bishop’s Falls and Grand Falls-Windsor, as well as a section of approximately 40 kilometres of highway heading west, beginning at Whitbourne. These improvements will support reliability and security of access between rural communities, strengthen year-round transportation connections, improve transportation safety and enhance the TCH’s resiliency to climate change.

Speaker, we are proud of our continued commitment to road infrastructure improvements in Newfoundland and Labrador, including the upcoming completion of the Team Gushue Highway.

As part of our government’s historic investment of almost $1.4 billion over five years, support of $20 million will add 15 kilometres of passing lane near Port aux Basques. This will create a continuous passing lane for the first 30 kilometres leaving the community, so traffic can flow more efficiently during peak periods of ferry traffic.

Speaker, providing ample notice for significant projects like these allows road builders in the province to plan their expenditures, scale up their operations and hire more crews, which results in more highway and road construction being completed for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Thank you, Speaker.