Backgrounder

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Saint John Harbour Bridge

November 26, 2010
Saint John, New Brunswick

The Government of Canada is committed to modernizing and building new infrastructure to promote jobs and growth in communities and regions across Canada.

In keeping with these objectives, the Government of Canada will:

• Contribute $17.5 million toward vital refurbishment and repair work to improve the safety and lengthen the lifespan of the bridge, including: concrete barrier repair, surface paving, lighting replacement and new traffic lines painting.
• Forgive the Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority's outstanding federal loan of $22.6 million.

The contribution and loan forgiveness are conditional on existing tolls being removed and the bridge's ownership being transferred to the province. The removal of tolls is expected to help speed up commutes and the flow of goods and services through the city and region.

The federal government is funding its contribution to the refurbishment of the Saint John Harbour Bridge through the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund (GBCF), a $2.1-billion program under the $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan designed to support transportation and trade-related infrastructure at Canada's strategic gateways and border crossings.

The bridge is on provincial highway system Route 1, a major corridor for travel and trade in Atlantic Canada that connects with the region's busiest Canada-United States border crossing. Situated at the mouth of the Saint John River, more than 38,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily, making the Saint John Harbour Bridge an essential commercial and commuting link in the region.

The Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority maintains and operates the bridge year-round, which opened in 1968 to handle growing traffic within the city.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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