ROTHESAY, N.B. -- Transportation Minister Denis Landry announced 17 road and highway projects for Greater Saint John and Kings County valued at more than $24.6 million.

Construction is now underway at the Highland Road interchange near Grand Bay-Westfield: it is a $1.25-million project for grading on four highway ramps.

A total of $3.36 million is being invested to pave 5.9 km of Route 7 between the hydro line area and the Route 102 interchange; as well as 3.7 km of Route 177 from the Route 7 overpass to Saint John city limits.

Another half-million is being invested to pave 3.6 km of Route 7 between Harry Lyons Road and Welsford and three contracts have been awarded for clearing activities for the planned 10-kilometre, $70-million Welsford bypass (Route 7).

More than $1 million is going towards three bridge rehabilitation projects in the Westfield and Musquash areas: The Cunningham Creek Bridge No. 2 and Deep Lake Outlet No. 1 as well as the 15-year-old Perch Brook No. 1 crossing on Waterford Road.

Landry also announced a $1.24-million project to pave 3.6 km of the westbound lanes of Route 1 from the Ashburn Lake Road area toward the Harbour Bridge.

"Route 1 is one of New Brunswick's busiest highways and continued investments will help and improve the flow of people and goods and benefit urban and rural communities," said Landry. "To this end, we will be completing Route 1 as a four-lane highway. Three proponents have qualified for the request for proposals to twin 55 km between Saint John and St. Stephen and operate, maintain and rehabilitate the entire stretch from the New Brunswick / United States Border to Route 2 at River Glade."

Other projects include:

Just over $3 million to pave nine km of Route 114 between Route 1 and the Church Loop Road; $463,000 rehabilitation project for the crossing on the Waterford Road at Parlee Brook No. 1; and $3.59 million for rural road infrastructure to chipseal routes in Greater Saint John and Charlotte County.