News Release: SuperBuild Investment Means Phase 2 Construction at Highway 8/Conestoga Parkway

For Immediate Release
January 22, 2002

SuperBuild Investment Means Phase 2 Construction at Highway 8/Conestoga Parkway

KITCHENER — The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will tender a construction contract in early 2002 for Phase 2 of the interchange reconstruction at Highway 8/Conestoga Parkway in Kitchener to improve traffic flow and safety, Transportation Minister Brad Clark announced today.

"Kitchener is one of the fastest growing communities in Ontario," Clark said. "This multi-million dollar investment in infrastructure will sustain and strengthen our growing economy and quality of life for businesses and residents in the area."

"This project is a priority for both safety and prosperity across our entire Region," Kitchener-Waterloo MPP Elizabeth Witmer said. "Widening Highway 8 is a wise investment for the future and I am very pleased to see this construction moving forward."

Due to the extent of the work, reconstruction of the interchange was split into two phases. Phase 1, which included a median barrier wall and widening of the Parkway, was completed in the summer of 2000 at a cost of $29 million.

To address safety and improve traffic flow at the existing interchange, MTO will reconstruct the interchange under Phase 2.

Phase 2 of this Project will include:

widening Highway 8 from four to eight lanes from the Parkway south to Fergus Avenue;
replacement of the Franklin Street bridge over Highway 8;
replacement of the inner loop ramp from the westbound Parkway to southbound Highway 8 with a two lane, high level directional ramp; and
replacement of the single lane ramp from northbound Highway 8 to the eastbound Parkway with a two lane directional ramp.

Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2002, to be completed by Summer 2004.

"In a global economy, good highways help growing communities like Kitchener and Waterloo compete," Kitchener Centre MPP Wayne Wettlaufer said. "Improving Highway 8 will help move people and goods efficiently and promote economic prosperity in our area."

"I'm pleased that the Minister is committing to improve the efficiency, reliability and safety of Ontario's highways," Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott said. "Widening Highway 8 will benefit Kitchener in each of these aspects. Wayne Wettlaufer deserves credit for pushing the need for these improvements to Highway 8."

"The region will benefit from these improvements to Highway 8," Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk said. "Ontarians traveling in our area will move safely and efficiently."

"Through SuperBuild, we are making the province's highways safer and more accessible for the people of Ontario," said Finance Minister and Minister responsible for SuperBuild, Jim Flaherty. "Projects like this are key to modernizing and rebuilding the province's infrastructure."

The Ministry of Transportation has invested nearly $1 billion in highway infrastructure projects during the past year. Since 1995, the Ontario Government has invested more than $6.5 billion in highway capital projects.