Infrastructure Canada: Residents of Western Newfoundland to Benefit From Flood-resistant Highways, Bridges and Improved Infrastructure

DEER LAKE, Ontario, July 26 -- Infrastructure Canada issued the following news release:

Strategic investments in public infrastructure, including funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, improved roads and highways, and projects that adapt to frequent and intensifying weather events caused by climate change, play a key role in ensuring Canadians and their families have access to modern, reliable infrastructure that meets their needs.

Gudie Hutchings, Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, on behalf of the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, today announced funding support for infrastructure projects in Western Newfoundland. In addition, MP Hutchings also announced support to mitigate the risk of bridge washouts and flooding on area highways and roads.

The Government of Canada is investing over $15.1 million towards 46 projects in Western Newfoundland through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. These projects include improvements to municipal water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as provincial highways, roads and bridges. They also include upgrades to local recreation and sports facilities.

Once complete, residents will benefit from cleaner, more efficient wastewater services, safer transportation routes, and modern recreation areas to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

Additionally, the federal government is investing more than $15.1 million to mitigate the risks of bridge and road washouts, through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. Through this project, work will improve or replace aging highway bridges along Route 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), in western and central Newfoundland, Route 440 (North Shore Highway), and Route 460 (Hansen Memorial Highway).

Once complete, this project will help protect over 300,000 residents within a 700 km2 area. This project will increase resident's access to essential services by 95 per cent, and reduce future economic losses. It is also expected to provide long-term savings in recovery and replacement costs.

Quotes

"The Trans-Canada Highway is an important transit route that connects communities, businesses, and visitors across our beautiful province. This project will protect residents from flood damage caused by bridge washouts during extreme storms and flooding. We are also proud to support a further 46 projects that will significantly improve green infrastructure and roads and highways. With projects like these, we are taking concrete steps to reduce the impact of climate change, while improving the quality of life for residents for generations to come."

Gudie Hutchings, Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, on behalf of the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Ensuring that communities across Canada have modern infrastructure is essential to building a healthy, sustainable future. These investments are critical to ensuring communities in Newfoundland and Labrador can reach their full potential."

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural and Economic Development

"Extreme weather is becoming more severe, more frequent, more damaging and more expensive because of climate change. By investing in the infrastructure that protects our neighbourhoods, businesses, and families, we are building communities that can withstand future natural disasters and thrive for generations to come."

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety

Quick facts

The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) is a $2-billion, 10-year program to help communities build the infrastructure they need to better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes and droughts.

DMAF is part of the federal government's Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, which is providing more than $180 billion over 12 years for public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities.

Investing in green infrastructure that helps communities cope with the intensifying effects of climate change is an integral part of Canada's transition to a more resilient, low-carbon economy, which is among the commitments made under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.

Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.

The Rural Economic Development Strategy leverages ongoing federal investments and provides a vision for the future, identifying practical steps to take in the short term, and serving as a foundation to guide further work.

These investments complement the Atlantic Growth Strategy, a federal-provincial action plan aimed at stimulating economic growth in the region through five priority areas:

Skilled workforce/Immigration;

Innovation;

Clean growth and climate change;

Trade and investment;

Infrastructure.