(TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009 - PETERBOROUGH, ON) — An official ceremony today celebrated upgrades to the Park Street and Bonaccord Street bridges.  Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough Riding; Jeff Leal, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough Riding; and 
Paul Ayotte, Mayor of  the City of Peterborough, are pleased to see this important Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) project reach completion.

The Park Street and Bonaccord Street bridge projects included the removal of the existing bridge superstructures, the rehabilitation of the existing abutments, the construction of new concrete decks with sidewalks and barrier walls, as well as new approaches.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario each committed up to $256,200 to the project. The City of Peterborough committed the balance of the project’s total eligible cost of $768,600.

“The renewal of these bridges over Jackson Creek ensures fewer road detours and safer crossing for pedestrians, transit users and vehicles,” said MP Del Mastro. “These upgrades also benefit the environment by enabling more water to flow along the creek.”

“By investing in infrastructure projects, we are helping to strengthen Ontario’s communities,” said MPP Leal. “The completion of this project ensures safer and more reliable infrastructure for residents and visitors in Peterborough.

“Through this COMRIF investment, we have been able to ensure that the Park Street and Bonaccord Street bridges, which represent two of the oldest bridge structures within the City of Peterborough, continue to serve our community and its residents for years to come,” said Mayor Ayotte.

Under the COMRIF program, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and local partners to respond to local needs through infrastructure upgrades providing 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.