Harper takes $400 million in road cash to New Brunswick

FREDERICTON — Prime Minister Stephen Harper made his much-anticipated announcement on highway funding in New Brunswick this week, promising $414 million over the next decade in highway project financing.

Highway construction on the province’s National Highway System will begin this year, New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham and Harper said.

Over the next five years, there will be three projects along Route 1, at the One Mile House interchange, as well as twinning from Pennfield to Lepreau and Waweig River to Murray Road. The work on Route 7 will involve the construction of a bypass at Welsford. Along Route 8, there will be construction at the Nashwaak/Marysville Bypass and on Route 11 there will be a bypass built between Tracadie-Sheila and Six Roads.

Work will also begin this year on the Route 1 twinning project, the Nashwaak/Marysville Bypass and the Tracadie-Sheila to Six Roads Bypass.

Work on the One Mile House interchange is scheduled to start in 2008 and work on the Welsford Bypass is scheduled for 2009.

“As we move toward self-sufficiency, we must accelerate investment in our transportation infrastructure so that it can drive economic development,” Graham said. “All of these improvements to New Brunswick’s National Highway System will facilitate the movement of goods and people and stimulate economic growth.”

Added Harper: “Today’s announcement with Premier Graham is a testament to what can be achieved when Ottawa and the provinces embrace the truce spirit of open federalism and work together to make Canada stronger, safer and better.”