Highways, water & sewer projects ready to roll out in economic recovery plan
The Manitoba government will release tenders for additional highway asphalt resurfacing and water & sewer projects in the coming weeks, Premier Brian Pallister announced June 10. The projects will be funded out of the previously announced economic recovery program.
The premier announced $525 million in new investment dollars, to roll out over two years, will be divided in this way:
- $260 million of provincial cash through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program; this is subject to the province submitting its list to the federal government, which it says will happen this week.
- $150 million for asphalt highway resurfacing
- $50 million for the Manitoba Water Services Board
- $65 million for major projects to improve the safety of highways
About half the highway and water services funding will come in the 2020 construction season, according to provincial officials. The new ICIP investment will depend on securing cost-sharing agreement with other levels of government and is subject to the federal approval process.
“We are encouraged to see there will be additional attention to Manitoba’s transportation network this and next year, especially since because infrastructure investment is one of the best ways to kick-start an economy,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said. “As mentioned by the Premier, there are lots of water and sewer projects in municipalities that have been waiting for funding – these are projects that directly affect the quality of life of Manitobans.”
The submission of $260 million worth of work under the Ottawa’s ICIP is long-awaited. The MHCA and other Manitoba business groups have encouraged full take up of this province’s allotment under ICIP, and also have asked the federal government to allow for flexibility in the program’s three streams.
Some of the streams to which federal cash is dedicated do not align with municipal priorities, making take up difficult.
The federal Liberals have said they are frustrated at the delay in Manitoba’s submission for funding under ICIP. Click here to read that story.
Pallister at the same time announced $91 million of this year’s $362.5 million Highways Capital program – already budgeted in 2020 – will flow to construction on the TransCanada Highway across Manitoba. Click here to see those project locations.
