Help for highways

Provincial and federal governments announce funding for roadwork

“I live on the main highway and I was told at one time that there are 8,000 cars a day go by here. That’s a lot of traffic.” Ivan Blanchard

If your regular commute includes a right turn off Route 2 onto Allen Road near Miscouche, Wednesday’s announcement should be of interest.

In fact, the same could be said for a number of intersections and stretches of secondary highway across the Island. Some of the projects had already been announced, and work is underway.

Various provincial and federal politicians gathered at the Miscouche village office Wednesday to announce a joint investment of $7.8 million to support a number of highway improvement projects.

Ivan Blanchard, chairman of Miscouche, welcomed the news.

“I live on the main highway and I was told at one time that there are 8,000 cars a day go by here. That’s a lot of traffic,” he said.

The work will include: — Rehabilitation of Route 152 in Elmsdale;

— Rehabilitation and adding shoulders on Route 150 in Alberton and Union;

— Addition of a new roundabout to Route 2 at Bloomfield Corner;

— Repairs to Route 2 in Miscouche, including the lengthening of the turn-off lane to Allen Road;

— Repairs to Route 2 and the addition of shoulders at the Travellers Rest roundabout;

— The replacement of two bridges on Route 6 as well as road repairs and new shoulders in Margate;

— Adding new shoulders and road repairs to Route 13, Rennies Road, outside Alberton;

— Road repairs and new shoulders on Route 5, Baldwins Road;

— Repairs, new shoulders, improved lighting and a new left-turn lane to Route 2 in Rollo Bay.

Egmont MP Bobby Morrissey also welcomed the funding announcement and the spinoffs it will create.

“When you spend money like this it goes all across the provincial economy.”

P.E.I.’s Infrastructure Minister Paula Biggar said these improvements are important to help keep the provincial economy working.

“We have over 500 trucks that leave this province per day … they do put a lot of stress on our highways. People just think of that as main routes, but those trucks go to the small ports, to the potato warehouses across P.E.I. and we have to make sure those connections are in good condition,” said Biggar.

COLIN MACLEAN/JOURNAL PIONEER Ivan Blanchard, chairman of Miscouche, stands along a busy stretch of Route 2 in his community. The provincial and federal governments announced joint funding Wednesday for a number of improvement and repair projects along Route 2.