ORTON — The Township of East Garafraxa today held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially start construction to replace Bridge 9. David Tilson, MP for Dufferin-Caledon, and Allen Taylor, Mayor of the Township of East Garafraxa, are pleased to see this important Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) project get underway. A letter of greeting was read on behalf of the Honourable Leona Dombrowsky, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, expressing her congratulations to the Township.

Work on Bridge 9 includes replacing it with a concrete bridge structure, expanding it to two lanes, and installing an improved traffic barrier system. The Township of
East Garafraxa received funding to replace a total of three bridges. Bridges 21 and 23 have already been replaced, while Bridge 9 is expected to be ready by October 2008. The Township will hold an event to celebrate all three bridges in the fall.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario each committed up to $574,000 to the project. The Township of East Garafraxa committed the balance of the project’s total eligible cost of $1,722,000.

“Our Government is pleased to have partnered with the provincial and municipal governments for this important bridge replacement initiative,” said MP Tilson. “The new bridge will ensure safer and more efficient travel for our local residents and farmers.”

“Bridge 9 is an essential link for this community,” said Minister Dombrowsky. “We are pleased to participate in this partnership project to improve the quality of life for East Garafraxa residents.”

“Replacing Bridge 9 will make commuting easier for our residents who use it every day,” said Mayor Taylor. “Once complete, this bridge will provide better access for farm vehicles, heavy trucks and emergency vehicles, and improve the movement for other goods and services.”

Under the five-year, $900-million COMRIF program, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and local partners to respond to local needs through infrastructure upgrades to provide clean, safe drinking water, better sewage systems, improved waste management processes, safer local roads and bridges, as well as other health and safety priorities.