Communities across the Yukon will benefit from $7 million worth of infrastructure projects, it was announced today.

The biggest project is $2.3 million for rebuilding a bridge near Carmacks.

The money stems from a partnership among the territorial and federal governments.

The announcement was made today by Chuck Strahl, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and Northern Development Canada (who is in Whitehorse); Leona Aglukkaq, the federal Minister of Health; and Premier Dennis Fentie.

The projects included under the $7-million Infrastructure Stimulus Fund investment are:

• Burma Road reconstruction: $150,000;

• Dawson Gold Field Road upgrades: $100,000;

• Freegold Road Upgrades: $200,000

• Gentian Lane Reconstruction: $120,000;

• Kusawa Lake Road reconstruction: $42,000;

• South McQuesten Road upgrades: $100,000;

• Nahanni Range Road upgrades: $100,000

• Top of the World Highway Upgrades: $1.5 million;

• Albert Creek Bridge rehabilitation: $1.2 million;

• Deadman Creek Bridge rehabilitation: $1.2 million; and

• Nordenskjold Bridge rehabilitation: $2.3 million;

The Nordenskjold Bridge rehabilitation consists of replacing an existing single-lane Bailey bridge across the Nordenskjold River on the Freegold Road near Carmacks with a modern two-lane bridge equipped with a sidewalk. The road serves local residents, the general public and the mining industry, as well as other resource activities.

The bridge rehabilitation will help to improve the flow of traffic and will improve safety by separating pedestrians and vehicle traffic that currently share a single lane.

The new structure will also increase load capacity for the crossing, which currently limits industry. Emissions will also be reduced as opposing traffic will no longer need to wait to cross the bridge.

"Stimulating our economy and creating jobs for Canadians is a top priority for this government," Strahl said in a statement.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, we are moving quickly to flow money that will improve key infrastructure, including road, bridge and highway projects in Yukon.

"Working together with the territory, we can build the infrastructure that will allow the people of Yukon and the economy to thrive now and in the future."

"Our government's investment will improve the capacity of the Yukon's highways and roads, inject additional capital into our economy, and keep people working during these tough economic times," said Aglukkaq.

"The Government of Yukon will continue to maintain a high level of economic stimulus throughout the territory by creating employment opportunities and establishing crucial building blocks for longer-term economic growth," said Fentie.

The federal government is pitching in $3.5 million from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund as part of its Economic Action Plan. The Yukon government is contributing $3.5 million.

Canada's Economic Action Plan established a new $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to provide money to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects.

Funding will be available for two years for projects that will begin during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

Eligible recipients for the money include provinces, territories, local regional governments and public sector, not-for-profit organizations and, in limited cases, private companies.

Projects receiving funding under the ISF program must complete construction by March 31, 2011.

Strahl was scheduled to hold a news conference in Whitehorse later this afternoon to discuss the funding.

Aboriginal groups have criticized him for cancelling an appearance at a major land claims/self-government conference in Ottawa to fly to Whitehorse for the funding announcement.