Ontario Helps Build, Repair and Replace Municipal Roads and Bridges

Province supports 24 local communities to keep families safe and goods moving

The Voice of Canada News:

The Ontario government is providing $30 million to build a safer and more reliable transportation system that will help keep goods moving and better connect communities across the province.

The 2020-21 Connecting Links program will support 24 municipalities across the province to help them build, repair or replace municipal roads and bridges that connect two ends of a provincial highway through a community or to a border crossing.

“We understand that the maintenance and repair costs of roads and bridges places a heavy burden on our municipal partners,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “That is why we continue to support our local communities with investments that will keep families safe, goods moving, and drive economic growth and job creation.”

The funding will support three bridge repairs, 10 resurfacing projects, seven reconstruction projects, and four detailed design projects to prepare for further infrastructure investments.

Connecting Link projects are reviewed based on technical need and safety considerations such as the condition of the connecting link bridge and road, need for repair in the near term and cost effectiveness.

Eligible municipalities are also encouraged to apply for funding for the 2021-22 Connecting Links Program, which will be open to applications later this year.

Quick Facts

• The Connecting Links program is delivered through the Ministry of Transportation. The funding covers up to 90 per cent of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $3 million. Eligible costs include the design, construction, renewal, rehabilitation and replacement of connecting links.
• In Ontario, there are a total of 352 kilometres of connecting links, with 70 bridges in 77 municipalities.