Keith Milligan, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, announced today that the Prince Edward Island approach to the Northumberland Strait Bridge will include a direct entrance to Borden for traffic arriving in Prince Edward Island along with a new truck scale and inspection station.
‘The Provincial Government is committed to development of an attractive first impression for visitors and these initiatives are a first step in that direction,' said Mr. Milligan. ‘Moreover, Prince Edward Island commerce depends on safe and efficient trucking and the new scale will mean a real improvement in productivity for truckers entering and leaving the Province,' added Mr. Milligan.
The optional exit ramp will allow automobiles arriving in Prince Edward Island to enter the town directly from the Bridge. The new truck scale will be located immediately to the east of the Bridge toll plaza and will feature separate weighing platforms for in-bound and out-bound trucks to reduce delays.
The Minister said, ‘Our highway engineers studied traffic flow projections for the Bridge and concluded that the existing scale site could not be operated safely or efficiently after the Bridge opens.'
Mr. Milligan noted that the $400,000 cost of the direct exit ramp will be paid for from savings realized by the Bridge developer as a result of not building a new highway from Borden to Albany. The $1,600,000 cost of the scale facility will be shared equally between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
For more information contact: Mr. Foch McNally, P.Eng., Regional Engineer, Prince County, 902-368-5181; or Mr. Foster Millar, P.Eng., Senior Public Works Engineer, 902-368-5147.