The completion of five significant upgrades to highways and infrastructure in the Swan River and Dauphin areas at a cost of more than $20 million will increase safety and improve traffic flows for motorists, truckers and farmers, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton announced today.

“This investment in highways and roads, and the installation of a new bridge is a key step in our commitment to maintain and upgrade our highways for the benefit of all Manitobans,” said Ashton.

The work this summer and fall included:
* installation of a new bridge over the Bowsman River on PTH 10 north of Bowsman at an approximate cost of $2.4 million;
* paving of PTH 5 south of PTH 19 at an approximate cost of $6 million;
* grading and gravelling of PR 588 north of PR 275 west of Swan River for a distance of 1.6 kilometres at an estimated cost of $550,000;
* repairing a culvert and the road surface on PTH 83 just north of PR 367 at an estimated cost of $2.5 million; and
* paving of PTH 68 in the Lake Manitoba Narrows area at an estimated cost of $8.8 million.

“Modern roads like these help build more vibrant local economies, healthier local communities and stronger links between communities across the province,” Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Ron Kostyshyn said.

The projects were part of Manitoba’s 10-year commitment to upgrade highways and roads and is part of $589 million budgeted in 2012 for improved roads and bridges across the province, Ashton said, adding, so far, the province has invested $2.2 million of the total $4-billion commitment.