Released on March 17, 2011
Saskatchewan will benefit from a total joint investment of $157.8 million in eight highway, local road and water infrastructure initiatives under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund.
Gerry Ritz, Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Saskatoon Northwest MLA Gordon Wyant made the announcement in Saskatoon where improvements will be made at the intersection of Highways 7 and 14 in the Blairmore area.
"The economy remains our government's top priority and we are pleased to carry on with strategic investments such as these that are helping to keep Saskatchewan's roads and highways working cleanly and efficiently," said Ritz. "These new initiatives will contribute to ensuring Saskatchewan's sustained growth and economic prosperity."
"Saskatchewan's communities are growing rapidly and we need to have the infrastructure in place to keep pace with new development," Wyant said. "The improvements to the intersection of Highways 7 and 14, along with the other highway projects receiving federal funding, are meant to ensure increasing traffic volumes are moving efficiently and safely."
Improvements where Highways 7 and 14 intersect in the Blairmore area include the final alignment of Highway 7 to connect to Highway 14 and Dalmeny Road on the west side of Saskatoon. Work also includes the construction of two new at-grade diamond intersections along Highway 14 to accommodate traffic demands in this rapidly growing area. These improvements will provide unrestricted traffic movements for vehicles and semi-trucks coming from and turning onto Highway 7.
The total funding announced today supports construction, upgrades and improvements for new infrastructure initiatives identified in Saskatchewan's amended 2009-2010 Capital Plan, and its 2010-2011 Capital Plan, under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund.
The signing of the Capital Plans also marks the commitment of the remaining funding under Saskatchewan's $175-million allocation under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund. Under this Fund, Saskatchewan will receive $175 million from the Government of Canada for core infrastructure priorities such as water, wastewater and safe roads.
Across all of its funds, Infrastructure Canada has now committed more than $10.75 billion toward more than 6,300 infrastructure projects as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. When combined with the contributions of our funding partners, there is approximately $31 billion committed to infrastructure projects across the country.
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For more information, contact:
Kirsten Leatherdale
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8484
Email: kleatherdale@highways.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-9692
Robert Lynch
Office of Rob Merrifield
Phone: 613-991-0700
Infrastructure Canada
Phone: 613-948-1148