ST. THOMAS – The City of St. Thomas today held a ground-breaking ceremony to officially start the reconstruction of Wellington Road, and the replacement of the road’s watermains and sewermains. Joe Preston, MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London; Steve Peters, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London; and Cliff Barwick, Mayor of the City of St. Thomas, are pleased to see these important Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) projects get underway.

In April of 2005, COMRIF Intake One funding was announced for the City of St. Thomas for the reconstruction of Wellington Street. This project includes upgrades to the two-lane roadway. In April of 2006, COMRIF funding under Intake Two was announced for the replacement of Wellington Street’s watermains. This initiative also includes the addition of new storm sewers and the rehabilitation of sanitary sewer and service connections. These projects will provide the community with a safe and reliable roadway, and contribute to the health and efficiency of the area’s water and sewer systems.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario are each contributing up to $678,180 for both projects. The City of St. Thomas is investing the balance of the total eligible costs of $2,034,540.

“Canada’s New Government is proud to be part of the Wellington Street improvement projects because our investment of more than $675,000 will have multiple benefits for local residents,” said Mr. Preston, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Federal Minister of Health and Minister responsible for the COMRIF. “The widening of the road will improve traffic flow and safety, while the underground work will increase the capacity and reliability of the sewers and watermain, reduce front-yard flooding and enhance water quality.”

Under COMRIF, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and local partners to improve public infrastructure in small urban and rural communities. COMRIF is a five-year, $900-million program that responds 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.

For further information on the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, please visit www.comrif.ca.