News Release Communiqué

For immediate release August 18, 2011

CONSTRUCTION SET TO BEGIN ON WINDSOR-ESSEX PARKWAY Critical gateway project is creating jobs and providing new opportunities in the region

WINDSOR – At a groundbreaking ceremony, MPP , MPP , MP Dave Van Kesteren, municipal delegates and local business owners celebrated the start of construction on the Windsor- Essex Parkway, which is projected to deliver more than 12,000 jobs and to provide a boost to the regional economy.

The 11-kilometre Windsor-Essex Parkway will provide a modern, streamlined and safe transportation corridor. Once complete, it will provide commercial motorists with a faster, more efficient route to and from Canada’s busiest gateway to the United States and reduce heavy traffic through residential neighbourhoods.

Construction of the Parkway will begin on August 20, 2011. As the Windsor-Detroit gateway is a vital trade corridor, the Windsor Essex Mobility Group (WEMG) is required to keep four lanes of traffic open on Huron Church Road during core travelling hours, reducing the impact of construction on local and international-bound motorists. The Parkway will be open to traffic in the fall of 2014 with landscaping and other related works being finished by the summer of 2015.

This $1.4 billion project supports ’s long term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province’s roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and post secondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses in communities across Ontario. Since 2003 the McGuinty government has created and supported 600,000 jobs and invested $62 billion in infrastructure.

Quotes: Honourable , Minister of Infrastructure “The start of construction today demonstrates our government’s commitment to improving infrastructure across Ontario. The Windsor-Essex Parkway is the most significant, single highway investment in Ontario’s history. This investment is stimulating the economy, creating jobs and building stronger communities.”

Honourable , Minister of Transportation “Today is an exciting moment for the Windsor-Essex community. Construction of the Windsor-Essex Parkway will strengthen the local economy and when completed the Parkway will provide an efficient gateway to Canada’s busiest trade corridor.”

Honourable Dwight Duncan, Member of Provincial Parliament, Windsor-Tecumseh “I am excited to see this project move forward and construction start. Construction of the Parkway will keep Windsor- Essex’s economy moving and support roughly 12,000 jobs for hardworking families in our community. This is about the future prosperity of our community, our kids and grandchildren.”

Honourable Sandra Pupatello, Member of Provincial Parliament, "I'm so proud to be here today, breaking ground on Windsor-Essex's much needed, state-of-the-art Parkway. This is a milestone that's been several years in the making and we look forward to the thousands of jobs this project will continue to Page 1 of 2

create, the ease of traffic that will result, not to mention the envy this investment will inspire amongst communities all over the country."

Dave Van Kesteren, , Chatham - Kent - Essex “Keeping road and rail traffic moving safely and efficiently to the local border crossings is important for Canada’s economy. The new Windsor-Essex Parkway will spur local job growth, now and into the future and will support our international trade and therefore the continued growth of the economies of Windsor and Essex County, Ontario and Canada.”

Ignacio Lasa, Windsor Essex Mobility Group, Chief Executive Officer “Our team is excited to begin construction and to partner with businesses in the community to deliver the Parkway, on time and on budget. Over the last few months, we’ve been doing pre-construction work and we’ve met with hundreds of residents at Public Information Open Houses to hear concerns and answer questions.”

Pat Stricklin, Parkway Infrastructure Constructors, VP/Project Director “Thank you for entrusting us with this vital project. We are committed to building the Parkway on time and on budget. During construction, we will work to minimize impacts and to provide the community with advance notices of construction activities that could affect commute times.”

Jim Lyons, Windsor Construction Association, Executive Director “Many members of the Windsor Construction Association will play an active role in building the Parkway, in providing materials and supplies and in providing required labour. We’re thrilled that construction is starting.”

David Bradley, Ontario Trucking Association “This project will not only improve existing transportation networks, reducing travel times for commercial truckers and boosting job creation in the local economy, but it is an essential investment in the infrastructure needed to secure the future prosperity of the city, the region, the province and indeed of the country as a whole.”

- 30 - Contacts: Heather Grondin Paulette den Elzen Mark Butler Windsor Border Initiatives Infrastructure Ontario Windsor Gateway Project Implementation Group 416-327-5764 Transport Canada Ministry of Transportation 519-257-7739 519-973-7359

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