Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have done my share of driving that highway. I can assure the Member of that. As I have said in the past, we would not have that highway open if we figured it was not safe. We have standards to measure safety and we go by those standards.
I am not saying the Members are incorrect in saying the highway is not safe. It is a matter of opinion. That is the point of the whole thing. The department feels it is safe and we are doing everything we can to keep it safe. I do not know what else I can do to convince the Assembly that the highway is safe. There is the option that if Members feel the highway is not safe, they can request we close it. I really do not have any more money to put into improving that highway in any quick way.
We believe it is safe. We believe the money we have identified here in this budget for operations and maintenance will keep it safe while we are reconstructing. Thank you.