Released on May 12, 1995
Premier Roy Romanow and Prince Albert-Churchill River MP Gordon Kirkbytoday participated in a sod-turning ceremony to mark the beginning of
construction of the Cumberland House bridge. Romanow also took this
opportunity to announce the awarding of tenders for the bridge
construction.
Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Works Program funding of the bridge
was announced a year ago with the $6 million cost being shared by the
federal and provincial governments and the Cumberland House Development
Corporation (CHDC).
Tenders for the bridge construction closed May 2. Dominion Bridge Inc.
of Regina was awarded a $1,049,588 steel bridge girder supply contract;
and Peter Kiewit & Sons Co. Ltd. of Edmonton was awarded a $3,036,645
contract for bridge construction. Both awards were made on the basis
of the lowest bid. On-site contractors are committed to work with CHDC
to meet a local resident jobs target of a least 50 per cent of the
on-site employment.
CHDC will undertake the road construction portion of the project which
includes bridge approaches and a road relocation on the north side of
the river. The $390,000 contract was signed today.
A steering committee with representatives from the community, CHDC,
Cumberland House First Nations and the province was established to
identify and discuss local concerns. Saskatchewan Highways and
Transportation negotiated the agreement with CHDC in order to increase
local labour on the project.
CHDC also entered into a separate training contract with SIAST Woodland
Institute to provide road construction equipment and a supervisor. All
equipment operators and laborers on the road-building project will be
local residents or members of the Cumberland House First Nation.
It is estimated that construction of the bridge and road approach will
create the equivalent of 36 person-years of employment.
"This long-awaited bridge will provide Cumberland House, the oldest
community in Saskatchewan, with a year-round transportation link to the
rest of the province," Romanow said. "For the 1,350 residents of this
island community it means lower freight costs, decreased travel costs,
and increased access to services, including health care. The bridge
will also provide the necessary connections for more economic and
tourism development."
Speaking on behalf of Lloyd Axworthy, minister of Western Economic
Diversification and implementing minister of the infrastructure program
in Western Canada, Kirkby said: "Through co-operation between three
levels of government and the private sector, the infrastructure program
in Saskatchewan and across Canada has responded to community needs to
improve the quality of life and increase employment opportunities for
Canadians. The Cumberland House bridge project continues to answer
those needs by ending the community's isolation, addressing safety
concerns and emphasizing the use of a local labor force. Creating jobs
in a community is one of the most important points of the
infrastructure program."
"Everyone at Cumberland House is definitely pleased that we will soon
have a safer and better crossing," said Lennard Morin, Cumberland House
mayor and CHDC chair. "The bridge will end our three-to-six week
isolation period every spring and fall and lower our costs for fuel and
groceries since we won't have to bring them over by boat. The bridge
also will definitely stimulate an economic boom in the community
because it will give people access to Cumberland House."
Engineering and design work has been completed and construction is
scheduled to begin this month, with completion targeted for September,
1996. The site chosen for the bridge, approximately half a kilometre
upstream from the current ferry approach road, has also been cleared of
trees.
The Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Works Agreement was signed in
January, 1994. It enables Canada, Saskatchewan, municipalities and the
private sector to co-operatively undertake and fund projects which will
renew and improve the quality of the public infrastructure and create
employment opportunities for Canadians.
To date more than $174 million has been approved for 777 infrastructure
projects in the province.
Federal funding for the Infrastructure Works Program was provided for
in the February budget as part of the federal government's prioritized
spending program.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Heather Waldern Hinds Russ Krywulak
Communications Officer Director
Western Economic Diversification Infrastructure Program
Saskatoon Regina
Phone: 975-5475 Phone: 787-8808
Harold Hugg
Public and Northern Transportation Branch
Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation
Regina