This week residents, business leaders and members of the trucking community will have an opportunity to learn more about proposed improvements to the Trans Canada Highway under the Atlantic Gateway Initiative, says Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Robert Vessey.
“Through the Atlantic Gateway, the province has an excellent opportunity to improve safety and efficiency along it’s busiest trade route, the Trans-Canada Highway,” said Minister Vessey. “At the same time, it’s very important that Islanders have an opportunity to learn more about the proposed projects and to ask questions or raise concerns. That’s why these public information sessions are being held.”
The Trans Canada Highway between Charlottetown and Borden-Carleton was built in the 1950s. Since that time the number of commercial vehicles using the highway has increased significantly as has the number of passenger vehicles. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal recently conducted an extensive review of the highway to determine the areas most in need of improvement from a safety and efficiency perspective. That review concluded that three areas could benefit the most from major re-alignment; Crapaud, Tryon and Churchill. Some of the issues with these sections include sharp turns and steep hills, speed zone reductions through communities, school zones and a high number of driveway accesses.
“From our perspective as a major shipper of potatoes, these sections of the Trans-Canada Highway need to be re-aligned to improve safety and efficiency not only for commercial vehicles, but for regular passenger vehicles and local residents,” says Alvin Keenan, co-owner of Rollo Bay Holdings. “I’m confident there are many commercial carriers, including ourselves, who support the province’s efforts to shed light on the safety and efficiency issues that exist at these locations, and to try and address them by proposing projects that will greatly improve the highway.”
On Tuesday, October 25 and Thursday, October 27 the province will host public information sessions to allow residents and stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about the projects, ask questions and provide input. The information sessions will be held on the 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Dutch Inn in Cornwall and on the 27 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Crapaud Hall.
To learn more about the projects visit www.gov.pe.ca/gateway.