Route 2 To See Further Improvements During 2007 Construction Season

The Department of Transportation and Public Works announced today that Route 2, the province’s Veterans Memorial Highway, will see further projects to improve safety and capacity during the upcoming 2007 construction season.

“Having Route 2 added to the National Highway System has been a huge advantage for PEI because it has allowed important partnerships with the federal government to be made,” said Transportation and Public Works Minister Gail Shea. “Together we’ve made tremendous improvements to the province’s longest highway that links so many Island communities. Last year an $18 million investment by the provincial and federal governments was announced under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) to improve Route 2 and the projects taking place this year will build upon last year’s successful work.”

Among the projects completed on Route 2 last year were significant upgrades to a six kilometre section of highway near Hunter River and construction of the Island’s first modern roundabout at Travellers Rest. The two main Route 2 projects proceeding this year involve significant upgrades to an approximately six kilometre section of highway from Fredericton to Smith Road and from Hunter River to Greenvale.

Shea also advised that more Route 2 highway improvement projects are ready to be tendered in areas such as Woodvale, Five Houses/Dingwells Mills, and Mount Pleasant/Northam. Shea noted the good working relationships she has shared with her federal counterparts throughout her tenure and is pleased that the federal government shares her keen interest in getting more work done on Route 2. “Minister Cannon has spent some valuable time seeking input from the provinces about how best to deal with infrastructure renewal. We’ve been quite clear that, from Prince Edward Island’s standpoint, Route 2 is the best infrastructure investment that can be made on our part of the National Highway System. I’m quite optimistic that we’ll have the opportunity to do these projects this year after the federal budget is approved.”