Stimulus spending details emerge; Hwy 407 expansion too

OTTAWA — The federal Conservatives recent budget pledged billions of dollars in infrastructure funding in an effort to stimulate the economy, but only a few projects were actually listed.

A recent report in Embassy Magazine pointed out that the federal budget did not contain much in the way of international relations, but the main international focus is on helping mitigate the effects of the global economic slowdown by increasing border efficiency with the U.S.

In total, the federal government will provide $12 billion over the next two years in new or accelerated infrastructure funding.

The government will provide $80 million "on a cash basis" towards improvements to the land border crossings. The budget says these planned improvements will be done in co-ordination with the American plans and include such as work as expand customs plazas near Canadian crossings.

A Department of Finance official points out that trucks are often delayed due to the high traffic and the resulting cargo inspection delays. Expanded inspection points on site, he added, will help ensure "two-way traffic flows are as efficient and secure as possible."

Ottawa’s budget strategy is to ‘stimulate’ the economy while
revitalizing Canada’s highway and bridge systems

Along Canada’s southern border, improvements are planned for crossings connecting Prescott, Ont., with Ogdensburg, N.Y.; Huntingdon, Que., with upstate New York; Kingsgate in the B.C. interior with Idaho; and B.C. and Washington State along the Pacific Highway.

Other projects that will receive federal funding include: $130 million to twin the Trans-Canada Highway through Banff National Park; $212 million to renew the Champlain Bridge in Montreal; $15 million for the international bridges, Blue Water in Sarnia, Ont. and the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie; and $42 million for bridge rehabilitations across Canada.

Improvements are also planned for Canada’s northern frontier crossings, in Northern British Colombia and the Yukon. At these isolated northern outposts, Finance officials said, accommodations will be constructed so border workers can reside near the crossings.

Absent from the budget are any plans to improve the Ambassador Bridge, Canada’s busiest border crossing, connecting Windsor, Ont., with Detroit.

Meanwhile, the Ontario government recently got into the spending act as well by announcing a project along Highway 407.

The proposed extension of Highway 407 east from Pickering (Brock Road) to Clarington (Highway 35/115) will be a tolled highway with the province retaining control and ownership of the extension.

The province will be responsible for regulating tolls on the highway and meeting customer service needs. Revenues generated from the highway will go towards the construction costs and maintenance of the road, freeing up provincial funds for transit infrastructure projects.

Construction of the roadway will begin once the environmental approvals are in place, with service beginning by 2013.