July 18, 2008

 

DEVOLIN CELEBRATES THE COMPLETION OF WORK ON TWO COMRIF PROJECTS IN HIGHLANDS EAST

 

WILBERFORCE — Local MP Barry Devolin joined Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Dombrowsky, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and Dave Burton, Reeve for the Municipality of Highlands East to mark the completion of the replaced Dillman’s Bridge and Hadlington Road culverts.

 

Dillman’s Bridge, previously closed to traffic, was replaced with a low-maintenance structure built to current engineering standards. Three Hadlington Road culverts were removed and replaced with an open-span bridge structure designed to prevent overtopping during flooding.

 

The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario each committed up to $429,567 to the project through the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF). The Municipality of Highlands East committed the balance of the project’s total eligible cost of $1,288,700.

 

“These bridges link communities together and will help Highlands East to promote local and economic development,” said Devolin. “Our Government is pleased to have partnered with the provincial and municipal governments to complete this essential infrastructure project, which benefits area residents.”

 

“The replacement of the outdated culverts on Hadlington Road with the new bridge structure provides the only link to civilization and emergency services for local residents,” said Reeve Burton. “The new bridges have positively impacted our infrastructure and our economy.”

 

Under the five-year, $900-million COMRIF program, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and local partners to respond to local needs through infrastructure upgrades to provide clean, safe drinking water, better sewage systems, improved waste management processes, safer local roads and bridges, as well as other health and safety priorities.

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For more information contact:

Barry Devolin, MP                                               Sharon Stoughton-Craig, CAO, Highlands East

(705) 324-2400 or (866) 688-9881                       705-488-2981