Canada and New Brunswick invest $95 million to improve border crossings

• Backgrounder

Woodstock, New Brunswick, November 18, 2003 - A total investment of up to $95 million towards improvements at the St. Stephen and Woodstock, New Brunswick border crossings was announced today by Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure, David Collenette, Minister of Transport, and Andy Savoy, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, together with New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord and Transportation Minister Paul Robichaud.

"Border communities in New Brunswick need modern public infrastructure that encourages economic growth and prosperity," stated Minister Rock. "Today's investments re-affirm the Government of Canada's commitment to improving trade efficiency while promoting safe and secure Canadian border crossings."

"Improving our borders is essential to our plan to strengthen prosperity in our province and provide greater opportunity for New Brunswickers," Premier Lord said. "By investing in border infrastructure we are improving a trade corridor that reinforces our position as the east-west gateway to and from Atlantic Canada and a north-south corridor to and from the United States."

"When completed, the improvements at Woodstock will allow for the direct connection of the Trans-Canada Highway to the key I-95 trade corridor in the United States," said Minister Collenette. "Additionally, at St. Stephen, the new crossing will increase border efficiency and significantly ease congestion by taking international truck traffic out of the downtown area. The safety and environmental benefits to local residents, in addition to the trade and security benefits, make this a win-win proposition."

The Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick will each invest up to a maximum of $30 million towards key infrastructure work for a new border crossing outside St. Stephen in Southwest New Brunswick. Funding will go towards the construction of the Canadian section of a new international bridge, and road improvements, including a new four-lane highway between St. Stephen and Waweig.

At Woodstock, the Governments of Canada and New Brunswick will each contribute $10 million to convert 12 kilometres of Highway 95 into a four-lane divided highway, linking the Trans-Canada Highway to the border crossing.

"Today's announcement highlights the growth of international trade not only in New Brunswick, but across Atlantic Canada," said Claudette Bradshaw, Minister responsible for New Brunswick. "The money that we invest in key infrastructure today will be returned many times to the people of this province and region in the benefits from trade. This is a tremendous investment for New Brunswick communities and Canadians."

Minister Robichaud hailed the announcements as positive news for both communities and for the entire Atlantic region. "The Woodstock-Houlton and the St. Stephen-Calais border crossings are key in the efficient movement of New Brunswick's and Atlantic Canada's exports to the United States. By enhancing these international trade corridors, we are investing in the future economic growth of our province."

"This project is an excellent example of an investment that will have real and positive impacts on the immediate communities as well as farther afield," said Mr. Savoy. "It demonstrates the Government of Canada's ongoing commitment to invest in infrastructure that meets environmental, social and economic goals and ultimately improves our quality of life."

As part of today's announcement, the Government of Canada is committing to provide up to $15 million from the Border Infrastructure Fund to construct the necessary CCRA facilities at St. Stephen in conjunction with the completion of the bridge project. This work will be completed to coincide with plans by the United States government for its facilities on the American side of the crossing.

"We are pleased to contribute to today's border announcements for New Brunswick, and look forward to the opening of the customs facilities at the new St. Stephen border crossing," commented Elinor Caplan, Minister of National Revenue. "The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency remains committed to ensuring Canada's border crossings are safe and efficient."

The Government of Canada's investment at St. Stephen will come from the Border Infrastructure Fund, while its contribution at Woodstock will be made under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

The Government of Canada will work with the United States government and with the Government of New Brunswick to implement Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components such as FAST and NEXUS lanes at both border crossings in a timely manner.

In the Speech from the Throne of September 30, 2002, the Government of Canada committed to an additional 10-year involvement in public infrastructure. Its Budget 2003 re-affirmed this long-term commitment and provided an additional $3 billion in infrastructure support, thus bringing the Government of Canada's contribution to infrastructure to $12 billion since 1993.

Since 1999, the Government of New Brunswick has invested $1.4 billion in highway infrastructure in the province.

For further information contact:

Mylène Dupéré
Press Secretary
Office of Allan Rock
(613) 995-9001

Amy Butcher
Director of Communications
Office of David Collenette
(613) 991-0700

Denis D'Amour
Office of Claudette Bradshaw
(506) 851-7134

Rayanne Brennan
Office of Andy Savoy
(506) 392-5075

Caroline Jacques
Press Secretary
Office of Elinor Caplan
(613) 761-8569

Infrastructure Canada
(613) 948-1148

Chisholm Pothier
Office of Premier Lord
(506) 453-2144

Tracey Burkhardt
N.B. Department of Transportation
(506) 453-5634

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Backgrounder

New Brunswick Border Projects

Route 95 - Woodstock to Houlton, Maine

The Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick will invest $20 million towards twinning 12 kms of the two-lane, Route 95 from Woodstock to the U.S. Border. Route 95 links the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) at Woodstock to Interstate 95 at Houlton. Each government will contribute up to $10 million towards the project which is scheduled for completion in 2007. The Government of Canada's contribution to this project will be made through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) and will be added to the Canada/New Brunswick Strategic Infrastructure Agreement.

Truck traffic to Woodstock is expected to increase once the TCH twinning is completed. With the twinning of the TCH scheduled for completion in 2008, and in the absence of today's announcement, the 12 kms on Route 95 would have been the only two-lane stretch of highway between the TCH and the U.S. The twinning of Route 95 will help to respond to needs associated with the increasing use of this highway.

Traffic volumes over this section of the existing Route 95 average 2,390 vehicles a day. Of this traffic volume, 21% are trucks.