Quebec commits $4.7B for province's roads

Quebec will invest $4.7 billion in the province's transportation infrastructureover the next two years, Transport Minister Jacques Daoustannounced Friday.

Of that, 90 per cent will go to maintaining existing infrastructure and another $478 million will be used for new development projects.

"We'll start with ensuring our existing roads are in good condition," said Daoust said.

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The investment will see more than $1.4 billion invested in transportation infrastructure around Montreal and another $67.3 million in Laval.

Friday's announcement signaled the beginning of"orange cone" season in Quebec, Daoust said, referring to the start of roadwork around the province.

The investment will fund 2,139 projects on 3,200 kilometres of roads around Quebec and support 31,500 workers between 2016 and 2018.

Daoust added that the investmentwill heed the recommendations of the Charbonneau Commission on corruption in theawarding of construction contracts in Quebec.

For example, Transports Qubecwill assume responsibility for inspections ata majority of work sites and undertake a thorough analysis of new materials available on the market in order to ensurequality control.