FUNDING ANNOUNCED FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO VICTORIA AVENUE EAST

A $4.5 million road improvement project, cost-shared by three levels of government, will ease traffic congestion on Victoria Avenue East and result in smoother traffic flow on this Highway 1 connector.

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, Minister of Western Economic Diversification; Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag; Saskatchewan Government Relations Minister Len Taylor and Regina City Councillor Wade Murray on behalf of Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco, today announced funding for the project.

The City of Regina and Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation will each provide $1.5 million. The Government of Canada and Saskatchewan will provide $750,000 each in funding support through the Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Program (CSIP).

"The Government of Canada is committed to investing in urban infrastructure to improve our competitiveness and our quality of life," Goodale said. "The CSIP partnership between the three levels of government has produced a local solution to a local need so that Regina residents and visitors now have a safer intersection."

"I am pleased to see that upgrades to this vital national transportation link are now moving forward," Sonntag said. "This project will benefit motorists and businesses along Victoria Avenue East in terms of safety and enhanced mobility."

The roadway improvements will increase the traffic capacity of Victoria Avenue from Park Street to Fleet Street and the Victoria Avenue and Ring Road interchange. These improvements include the construction of additional through lanes and dual left turn lanes for westbound traffic from Victoria Avenue to Ring Road.

In addition to the new lanes on Victoria Avenue, Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation and the City of Regina will resurface the existing lanes between Park Street and Fleet Street at a cost of over $2 million. The City of Regina will spend an additional $500,000 to $600,000 resurfacing the north service roads abutting this portion of Victoria Avenue East from Park Street to Fleet Street.

"The City of Regina is extremely pleased that these major road improvements will be completed in time for Saskatchewan's 2005 Centennial celebrations and the 2005 Jeux du Canada Summer Games in Regina, benefiting both residents and visitors to our city," Mayor Pat Fiacco said. "This shows the great value we receive when all orders of government work together as partners to improve our communities."

The City of Regina has begun the tendering process on this construction project. Construction on Victoria Avenue East will begin this spring. Further details on construction start and end dates will be available once the project tender is awarded.

Federal funding for this project was provided for in the March 2004 federal Budget.

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For More Information, Contact:

Doug Wakabayashi Highways and Transportation Regina Phone: (306)787-4805	Joanne Mysak Western Economic Development Canada Saskatoon Phone: (306)975-5942
Maureen Boyle Government Relations and Aboriginal Affairs Regina Phone: (306)787-5959	Sandy Gousseau City of Regina Regina Phone: (306)777-7486