WELLINGTON NORTH – Wellington North will receive $1.42 million from the province for reconstruction of Queen Street East (Highway 89) in Mount Forest.
Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece announced the funding through Ontario’s Connecting Links program on April 9.
“Roads and bridges are critical to rural and small-town Ontario,” Pettapiece said.
“This is announcement is good news for our area. I have always said the province needs to pay its share where provincial highways are concerned.
“I congratulate the municipalities, councils and staff who made the case for funding.”
The local funding is part of a $30-million allocation to 14 municipalities to repair roads and bridges through the Connecting Links program.
“By investing in our roads and bridges, vital links that connect people to jobs, we’re supporting the movement of goods and creating economic growth in local communities,” said Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney.
“This funding not only helps municipalities maintain local infrastructure, but also supports projects that make roads safer, such as improvements to pedestrian crossings.”
Through the Connecting Links Program, eligible municipalities receive up to 90 percent of project costs, to a maximum of $3 million for road projects.
In response to municipal feedback, starting in 2021-22, the province is permanently raising the maximum amount of available funding for bridge projects from $3 million to $5 million to reflect the higher costs of maintaining and repairing bridges compared to roads.
A press release from Pettapiece’s office states eligible municipalities are also encouraged to apply for funding for the 2022-23 Connecting Links Program, which will be open to applications later this year.
