Travellers on Route 2, known as the Veterans Memorial Highway, between Summerside and Charlottetown, will be safer thanks to investments of $18.4 million from the Government of Canada and the Province of Prince Edward Island.
Through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), the Governments of Canada and PEI have committed up to $7.5 million and $10.9 million respectively towards improvements on this section of the highway, which is part of the National Highway System.
“Route 2 is a key transportation corridor in Prince Edward Island and Canada’s new government is helping to provide Islanders and tourists alike with a safer and more efficient road system,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “This project is not only a concrete example of our excellent relationship with the Province, it also demonstrates our commitment to enhance the quality of life of Canadians.”
The announcement was made today by Minister MacKay on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities together with the Honourable Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island.
“Securing funding for Route 2 has been an ongoing priority for our government so we are very pleased to have funding in place which lets us get down to business,” said Premier Binns. “Today’s announcement builds upon the previous success of having Route 2 added to the National Highway System, which makes this critical piece of public infrastructure eligible for funding partnerships like the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund. This investment will be a positive development for citizens, businesses and communities across Prince Edward Island, and I thank the Government of Canada for their partnership and support.”
The investment will be targeted at specific upgrade projects on Route 2, such as the reconstruction of 12.7 km of the highway and building paved shoulders, climbing lanes and turning lanes, and the rehabilitation of over 9.5 km. The project also includes changing a non-signalized T intersection into a roundabout with improvements to grade and alignments. This work will serve to address issues of capacity, efficiency and safety at various points of the highway between Summerside and Charlottetown.
The federal and provincial governments will continue to work together to develop a formal contribution agreement, which will outline the funding details more precisely and allow eligible project costs to be reimbursed. Financial support is conditional on meeting applicable federal and provincial requirements, including the successful completion of environmental assessments required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
This announcement builds on the Infrastructure Governance Framework signed between the Government of Canada and the Province in April 2005, on the management of more than $120 million in infrastructure funds to be invested in PEI communities over the next five years. This Governance Framework provides a locally based and responsive management structure for the Canada-PEI Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF), the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) and the transfer of federal gas tax revenues to communities in the province.
For more information about federal and provincial infrastructure initiatives that benefit the communities of Prince Edward Island, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca or www.gov.pe.ca/go/infrastructure.