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Judy Foote, MHA for the District of Grand Bank, says in light of tender
contract delays and cancellations in other districts around the province,
she is calling on the Minister of Transportation and Works to move quickly
to ensure that road work announced for the District of Grand Bank is
completed this year.
Minister Rideout announced $500,000 to upgrade sections of Route 210 and
Route 220 on the Burin Peninsula, a portion of which will be spent in the
District of Grand Bank.
"While I was disappointed with the amount of money allocated for road
work in the District of Grand Bank this year, it will help those areas for
which it has been designated and therefore important that it get spent. This
is the reason that I am asking the minister to ensure these projects move
forward this year," said Ms. Foote. "These road repairs are very important
to the people using the Burin Peninsula highway system and government’s
promised investment was welcomed. To have the work postponed after the
announcement was made would not be welcomed by the residents of the Burin
Peninsula..
"It appears that other projects on Fogo Island and the Bay D’Espoir
highway may be delayed until next year, similar to the circumstance that
took place last year. These delays are unacceptable when there was
sufficient time to prepare tenders and have the work awarded and completed.
The people on the Burin Peninsula need upgrades to their road network.
Delaying tender calls and awarding contracts too late in the year for the
work to be completed will only make driving conditions deteriorate even more
over the next several months and make winter driving that much more
hazardous.
"I am asking Minister Rideout to ensure that the road work he committed
for the Burin Peninsula actually takes place this year. People living in
every region of this province deserve quality roads. Any attempt to delay
projects in our region will be unacceptable to the people of the Burin
Peninsula."
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