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Joyce calls on government to keep commitment and spend money on upgrading highways January 11, 2007 Eddie Joyce, Opposition Transportation and Works Critic and MHA for the District of Bay of Islands, is calling on government to move forward with announced highways projects instead of re-announcing the same funding and projects year after year. "Each year this government makes big announcements suggesting that they are making the largest budgetary investment into highways," said Mr. Joyce. "However, each year we find out that significant money is being carried over from the previous year to bump up this figure. It is estimated that at least $7 million of road work funding announced in this year's budget will not be spent on the west coast this year. This figure rises to approximately $15-20 million when the entire province is considered. While this work is not taking place, government continuously tries to convince people that they are making significant investments into our highways infrastructure. "In the Bay of Islands region alone there are demands for new road work investment. In the Premier's district of Humber West, a section of the Lewin Parkway is in deplorable condition. There are currently 8 signs advising motorists of the dangerous condition of the road and speed limits have been reduced to 30km/h. This section of highway services the population of Corner Brook, Curling and the south shore of the Bay of Islands, yet has not received the necessary investment to improve safety. "In addition, throughout my district and others in the province, potholes and ruts are getting worse and are posing significant dangers for winter driving conditions. Unfortunately, as a result of the lack of maintenance workers, very little work is being undertaken to address these problems. "If government is serious about improving road conditions, they should start spending all of the money committed in their budget. This appears to be nothing more than a public relations exercise in which funding for projects is announced in two or three budgets before much of it is actually spent."
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