Contracts Awarded for Highway 125

Two key construction projects have been awarded for an important travel corridor in Cape Breton County.

RDL Construction Ltd. was awarded a $5.5-million contract to widen the Sydney River Bridge located on Highway 125, 0.5 kilometres west of Exit 6. A $5.3-million contract was awarded to J & T Van Zutphen Construction Inc. to construct a new interchange, approaches and ramps at Coxheath Road. Work on both Highway 125 projects is expected to begin before the end of August.

"This is a significant investment in our highway infrastructure and very positive news for motorists on this busy highway," said Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell. "These projects, along with the twinning work planned next year, will alleviate congestion and help the area prosper."

Both projects have a completion date of June 30, 2005.

Construction of new twinned lanes on Highway 125 from Balls Creek to Sydney River will begin in the spring and should be completed by the fall of 2005.

The estimated cost of the entire Highway 125 project is $20 million. Under the cost-shared Strategic Highways Infrastructure Program, the province will provide $16.4 million in funding, while the federal government will contribute $3.6 million.