All Governments Finally Agree On Bridge/Road

I'll bet you never thought that it could happen.

Finally, the Federal Government, the Province and the City have come together and agreed on a project to build a new bridge and a new road in the City!

A new six lane bridge will be built which will help divert away from the City commercial traffic and ease connections to help the economy. As you know, six lanes will accomplish a number of objectives that have been needed no matter to which of the parties one talks.

The new road will improve air quality and obviously ease traffic congestion.

Here is one of the big shockers though of the deal that I never thought would happen:

THE CITY WILL CONTRIBUTE ALMOST 30% OF THE COST!

Yes, the City is putting its money where its mouth is and is prepared to make an investment to get what it wants.

Oh dear, I may be confusing you. You must be thinking that this is happening in the City of Windsor. I should have told you right at the beginning of this BLOG that it was happening out West, in Saskatoon.

Hey I have an idea. Perhaps when our Mayor finally develops his commuting plan to send workers out West so that they can return on weekends with all of that money in their pockets, he might be one of the people to go on that plane first.

He could use some time out West to find out how things are done in a different municipality. Perhaps he could learn something from the Mayor of Saskatoon about how to get along with the Senior Levels and actually accomplish something that is required for his City.

• Prime Minister Harper announces new bridge to complete ring road and ease traffic congestion in Saskatoon
  20 June 2008
  Saskatoon
  
  Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joined by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison, today announced that the three levels of government are joining together to build the South River Crossing bridge and complete the Saskatoon Circle Drive Southwest Project.
  
  “The Saskatoon Circle Drive Southwest Project will ease traffic congestion throughout the city and help keep the local and provincial economy growing by improving its connections to markets across the continent and around the world,” said the Prime Minister. “It will reduce fuel consumption and expense, improve city air quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and shorten commute times.”
  
  The project includes construction of a new six-lane bridge across the South Saskatchewan River to complete the final section of the Centre City Ring Road, which will help divert commercial vehicles and other through traffic from the downtown core.
  
  The total eligible project cost is $242.5 million. Under a three-way cost sharing arrangement, the federal and provincial governments will each contribute up to $86 million, with the City of Saskatoon contributing $70.5 million.
  
  “This project is a testament to what can be achieved when governments embrace the true spirit of open federalism and work together to make Canada stronger, safer, and better,” Prime Minister Harper said.
  
  The Saskatoon Circle Drive Southwest Project is part of the Building Canada Plan, the federal government’s strategy for renewing the country’s national economic infrastructure. The $33-billion undertaking is Canada’s largest infrastructure development program in over half a century.