The Quebec government has announced more than $1 billion in roadwork across the province this construction season.

In West Quebec, $36 million will be spent on road improvements, including the extension of Highway 50 to Thurso.

The province now expects to have Highway 50 completed to Lachute by 2009, but is waiting for the federal government to provide some funds. A four-lane highway already exists from there to Montreal.

As well, McConnell-Laramée Boulevard will be extended, joining it from Promenade Lac des Fées to Saint-Laurent Boulevard at Highway 50. It's part of the controversial plan that would eventually see McConnell-Laramée run through Gatineau Park.

A quarter of the $1 billion is going into the repair and improvement of major highways in and around Montreal.

Indeed, it will be another summer of traffic torment in Montreal as Transport Quebec launches major roadwork on highways 20, 25, and 40.

Several sections of the Decarie Expressway and Highway 15 north of Laval will also be under construction.

Crews will also take over the Lafontaine Tunnel, the Turcot Interchange, and highways 20 and 15 on the South Shore.

However, little construction is scheduled this year to expand Highway 30, which will be critical to divert truck traffic off the island of Montreal.

Transport Minister Yvon Marcoux said the quality of Quebec's roads is lagging badly behind other areas and it will take 10 years and billions of dollars more to bring the quality up to the standards in Ontario and the U.S.

"In comparison with our neighbours, we have to bring up the quality of our network, to be able to compare with our neighbours. That's why we have an objective of 10 years on that," he said.

Marcoux said that public-private partnerships will help raise even more money to build new roads.

The government is counting on private companies agreeing to help share the cost, and then setting up tolls to help pay for it.