November 6, 2014, Winnipeg, Man. – The Manitoba government
is releasing the list of upcoming core infrastructure projects a month early to
give the construction industry a head start as they gear up to build and repair
highways, roads and bridges across the province in 2015, according to Infrastructure
and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton.
November 6, 2014, Winnipeg, Man. – The Manitoba government
is releasing the list of upcoming core infrastructure projects a month early to
give the construction industry a head start as they gear up to build and repair
highways, roads and bridges across the province in 2015, according to Infrastructure
and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton.
"We are ramping up provincial investments in core
infrastructure while also ensuring the construction industry gets the time they
need to prepare for the increased work," Minister Ashton said. "This year, construction firms have an
extra month to do the planning, hire and train the workers, and buy the
equipment they need to build and upgrade highways, roads and bridges."
The highway, road and bridge tender package released today
is part of the Manitoba government's five-year, $5.5-billion core
infrastructure plan, which is supported with the one-cent-on-the-dollar PST
increase, Minister Ashton said. The
Conference Board of Canada has projected this plan will create 58,900 jobs over
five years, boost the economy by $6.3 billion and boost exports by $5.4
billion, the minister noted.
"The tender schedule is important information for the
design, heavy construction and related supply industries. We welcome this early release because it
enables earlier purchase of products and supplies, and investment in human and
capital resources, each of which support competitive bidding and accelerated
construction," said Chris Lorenc, president, Manitoba Heavy Construction
Association (MHCA).
Highway tenders have traditionally been released near the
end of November, Minister Ashton said.
The importance of releasing tenders earlier was a key recommendation
from construction industry leaders who said they would need more time to submit
their bids and plan for the significant increase in road construction made
possible by the Manitoba government's $5.5-billion investment, the minister
noted.
Last month, another key recommendation was implemented with
the formation of a new joint Infrastructure Innovations Council, Minister
Ashton said. Created in partnership with
the MHCA, the council will help accelerate road construction, build capacity in
the industry and meet core infrastructure investment targets, he noted, adding
the council will also provide feedback to government along with advice on how
to more efficiently manage projects.
"The Infrastructure Innovations Council is intended to
help apply all aspects of innovation to core infrastructure design,
construction, maintenance, rehabilitation and related best practices. It will harness the opportunity of Manitoba's
five-year core infrastructure program and help establish Manitoba as the first
Canadian Core Infrastructure Centre of Excellence and Innovation," said
Lorenc.
The tendering schedule for the 2015-16 construction season
is available at: www.gov.mb.ca/mit/contracts/index.html . The core infrastructure report and analysis
by the Conference Board of Canada are available at: www.steadygrowth.ca .
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