The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure:

Speaker, I rise today to highlight our commitment to advancing improvements in transportation infrastructure throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, supported by our government’s unprecedented multi-year funding commitment.

With close to 10,000 kilometres of provincial roads and highways, we have once again developed a balanced approach for this year’s highway construction season, supported by an investment of $288 million in Budget 2024.

The Provincial Roads Plan is based on input from departmental engineers and the traveling public. Other significant factors in determining the list of highway construction projects include the impacts of climate change; commercial, industry, and tourism impacts; traffic volumes; and populations serviced.

Speaker, in recent weeks, we have already issued tenders for significant road improvements in areas including Jackson’s Arm, Cormack, Bay de Verde, Trepassey, Witless Bay Line, Bay d’Espoir, Labrador West, Burgeo and the Northern Peninsula, with much more on the horizon.

It is going to be a busy road construction season as we prepare to upgrade many roads, highways and bridges all over our province. The work we are doing will support communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and will help drive social and economic activity in rural and urban areas.

Thank you, Speaker.