FREDERICTON (GNB) – The following message was issued by Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams in recognition of National Transportation Week from May 29 to June 7:

A safe and efficient transportation system contributes to the economic and social progress of our province. Whether urban or rural, large or small, north, south, east or west, communities prosper when transportation routes and services are available to create opportunities and enhance quality of life.

In our province, the Atlantic Gateway is a major initiative destined to bolster international trade and travel. New investments in cruise infrastructure at the Port of Saint John and upgrades to runways at the Fredericton and Moncton airports will enhance our transportation network. We are also excited about improvements along the Route 1 corridor which will see the completion of a four-lane highway to connect New Brunswick and the rest of Atlantic Canada to the northeastern United States. This new highway will open no later than July 2013 and represents a $540 million federal/provincial investment.

The Nashwaak/Marysville Bypass project near Fredericton involves the construction of a new, two-lane controlled access highway to bypass existing Route 8 and remove heavy trucks from residential areas in and around the capital city. This $124 million, federal/provincial project will be completed in the fall of 2013.

On Route 11, a new two-lane, controlled access highway from Tracadie-Sheila to Six Roads has improved our road system in the northeast. Planning, design and preliminary work are also underway for a new Caraquet Bypass which when complete will remove through traffic from the main part of Route 11 that is currently routed through the Town of Caraquet.

In the southeast, a new interchange on Route 15 at Scoudouc has provided direct access from the highway to the nearby industrial park, producing a shorter route for truck traffic and less truck traffic on the local road network and in residential areas. Other key projects include the twinning of Route 2 near the Quebec border to be completed by 2014 and continued construction work on the Welsford bypass on Route 7 near Saint John.

We are also working on the replacement of the international bridge at Clair-Fort Kent, upgrades to the Hugh John Flemming Bridge near Hartland, and rehabilitation of the Centennial Bridge in Miramichi.

These are some of the important projects we are undertaking as we invest in our transportation infrastructure to build a better and stronger province, while also living within our means. Our transportation network is a vital component of our society. That is why our government is committed to provide New Brunswickers with the most reliable, safe and efficient transportation system possible.


25-05-12