Canada and Manitoba support improvements to the Trans-Canada highway in Headingley

• Backgrounder

Headingley, Manitoba, November 6, 2009 — The Honourable Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State for Democratic Reform and Member of Parliament for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia, today announced that the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba are supporting the Headingley Divided Highway project.

The Government of Canada is setting aside up to one-half of total eligible costs, to a maximum federal contribution of $5.65 million. The province is matching that for a total project cost of approximately $11.3 million.

“This highway is a crucial component of our entire highway system in Manitoba and these upgrades will improve safety and traffic flow,” said Premier Selinger. “By investing in this project, we are also improving the structural capacity of this highway and ensuring the flow of goods continues.”

“Our Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is focused on getting shovels in the ground, creating jobs, and stimulating regional economies,” said Minister Fletcher. “This project will create local construction jobs and ensure that this stretch of the Trans Canada Highway through Headingley will be a safe and dependable transportation link for decades to follow.”

The Headingley Divided Highway Improvements project will upgrade a 1.7 kilometre section of the Trans-Canada Highway in the Headingley area. This highway is a core National Highway System (NHS) route.

Beyond this funding announcement, the Government of Canada is taking important steps to support economic growth. Canada's 2009 Economic Action Plan includes a vast array of measures to strengthen Canada's economy including close to $12 billion in new infrastructure investments over two years, tax relief and support for unemployed Canadians.

Today's announcement continues the important steps the Province of Manitoba is taking to support economic growth by investing $1.6 billion this year into infrastructure to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and renew the province's roads, schools, health facilities and water treatment facilities.

For more information on Building Canada, please visit: www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.
To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For further information contact:

James White
Office of the Honourable Stephen Fletcher
Minister of State for Democratic Reform
204-984-6432

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148

Jay Branch
Director
Cabinet Communications
Province of Manitoba
204-945-1494

Backgrounder
TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS IN MANITOBA

Canada and Manitoba are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure.

The Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba has set aside funding for the Headingley Divided Highway Improvement project, which will see upgrades to a 1.7 kilometre stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway in the Headingley area, west of Winnipeg. The Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba are splitting the total eligible costs, to a maximum of $5.65 million.  The total cost of the project is estimated at $11.3million.

The project will result in the Trans-Canada Highway being upgraded to a divided, limited-access highway segment between the Husky service station and the John Blumberg Sports Centre intersections. Work includes the construction of new pavement, a raised median, turning lanes, intersection enhancements and new service roads to replace existing accesses to the highway. As such, this project will result in increased capacity and improved safety and mobility.

Federal funding is conditional on the project meeting all federal requirements under the Building Canada Fund and the signing of a contribution agreement with Manitoba.