Engineers with the province will implement measures to ensure traffic can pass through the roundabout construction site at Poole’s Corner without encountering significant delay or rough roadway, says Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Robert Vessey.
“Engineers from my department have instructed the contractor on site to construct temporary, paved diversion roads so traffic can pass through the site on relatively smooth roadway,” said Minister Vessey. “Those diversion roads were always part of the plan, but after meeting with officials from the Prince Edward Island Street Rod Association and the local MLA Allen Roach, and after concerns were raised by residents, the department decided to add a thin layer of asphalt to those temporary roads to improve conditions for the travelling public. At the end of the project, that asphalt will be recycled for use elsewhere.”
The construction of the roundabout began last week. The $1.7 million project will be completed in six to eight weeks depending on weather.
“We applaud the department’s engineering team for its efforts to address the concerns we had with the construction site and how it could negatively impact the event,” said PEI Street Rod Association President Sabina MacLeod. “The vehicles coming to the Show ‘n Shine are not driven through adverse conditions and owners are now assured they will have a smooth and clean surface to drive on at the site.”
“This just goes to show that by sitting down and having a good conversation, compromise can be achieved,” said the MLA for Montague Kilmuir Allen Roach. “Department officials were quick to respond to the concerns of event organizers, and those organizers were more than happy with the suggestions made by the engineers. In the end everyone left the meeting satisfied.”