Wellesley Improves Local Road Infrastructure

• Backgrounder

Wellesley, Ontario, October 23, 2009 - The Township of Wellesley today held a ceremony to celebrate the start of work to resurface Steffler Road, Broadway Street, Hessen Strasse and Weimar Line; as well as upgrade the Siegner Bridge, thanks to joint federal and provincial infrastructure funding. Harold Albrecht, MP for Kitchener-Conestoga; Leeanna Pendergast, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga; and Ross Kelterborn, Mayor of the Township of Wellesley, are pleased to see these important infrastructure projects get underway.

“I look forward to seeing the benefits these improvements will bring to the transportation system in the Township of Wellesley,” said MP Albrecht. “Thanks to our partnership with the provincial and municipal governments and our renewed commitment to infrastructure in Canada's Economic Action Plan, we are able to see many positive changes taking place in communities throughout Ontario.”

“Safe and efficient transportation networks are important to Ontario's residents," said MPP Pendergast. "By replacing and rehabilitating essential infrastructure, we are ensuring that the residents and visitors in this community are able to travel on safe and reliable roads and bridges.”

“Today is a great day for the Township of Wellesley,” said Mayor Kelterborn. “Upgrading our roads and bridges ensures that our residents and visitors are fully able to enjoy our community's sights, as well as to conduct their business effectively and efficiently. These improvements will correspond to improvements in the local economy.”

The combined federal and provincial investment in these projects is $971,767.

During these challenging economic times the governments of Canada and Ontario have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

For additional details on these projects, please refer to the backgrounder.

Contacts:

Susan Duke
CAO/Clerk
(519)-699-4611

Backgrounder
INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS PROJECTS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF WELLESLEY

INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS FUND

HESSEN STRASSE AND WEIMAR LINE RESURFACING PROJECTS SIEGNER BRIDGE HANDRAIL REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Replacing the existing deteriorating handrails, barrier and end walls on Siegner Bridge will improve the safety of the travelling public and prolong the service life of the bridge. Facilitating efficient and safe transportation will result in economic, environmental, cultural and safety benefits for all users and the Municipality in general. The governments of Canada and Ontario each committed up to $639,500 to the projects. The Township of Wellesley contributed the balance of the total eligible project cost.

BUILDING CANADA FUND – COMMUNITIES COMPONENT

STEFFLER ROAD AND BROADWAY STREET RESURFACING PROJECT

New, reliable road surfaces will reduce noise, dust and vehicle wear, and increase safe operating speeds, improving emergency response times, efficiency, energy consumption and routine maintenance costs. Adequate roads are essential for the local business economy, residents and tourists alike, facilitating growth and prosperity while preserving the unique Old Order Mennonite culture in the area. The governments of Canada and Ontario each committed up to $332,267 to the project. The Township of Wellesley contributed the balance of the total eligible project cost.