MPP Walker announces Connecting Links funding for West Grey

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker has announced that the province is providing the Municipality of West Grey with $329,378 through the Connecting Links Program to support the replacement of the Garafraxa Street culvert.

Eligible costs include the design, construction, renewal, rehabilitation and replacement of municipal roads and bridges that connect two ends of a provincial highway through a community or to a border crossing.

“This is great news for West Grey and our entire community. Connecting Links roads and bridges are vital links that connect people to jobs, support the movement of goods and create economic growth across Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and the entire province,” said Walker.

The Ontario government is investing $30 million to help 14 municipalities repair roads and bridges through the Connecting Links Program. They will receive up to 90 per cent of eligible project costs, up to a maximum of $3 million for road projects. In response to municipal feedback, starting in 2021-22, the province is permanently raising the maximum amount of available funding for bridge projects from $3 million to $5 million to reflect the higher costs of maintaining and repairing bridges compared to roads.

“I am pleased to see our government has raised the maximum amount for bridge projects to $5 million. This will come as welcome news to municipalities with Connecting Links roads,” said Walker.

“By investing in our roads and bridges we’re connecting people to jobs, supporting the movement of goods and creating economic growth in local communities,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “This funding not only helps municipalities maintain local infrastructure, but also supports projects that make roads safer, such as improvements to pedestrian crossings.”

Eligible municipalities are also encouraged to apply for the 2022-23 Connecting Links Program, which will be open to applications later this year.