A new Provincial government highways maintenance facility will bring several jobs, and a community asset to the community of Dundas.
Honourable Mike Currie, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, announced today that Dundas has been chosen as the location for a new 10,000 square foot Government garage. "Our objective is to improve efficiency in terms of maintenance requirements for government equipment and this facility will mean the equipment will be serviced closer to where it is in use rather than transported to Charlottetown. That means that valuable time is not lost waiting for maintenance and we can keep equipment on the roads and in good working order. The central location of this facility will also provide the opportunity for more routine maintenance which should enable us to get the maximum return from government equipment."
More than 90 Kings-County based vehicles, ranging from graders and grass cutting equipment to snowploughs and trucks will be serviced at the new site. The Minister says in order to ensure good service to the public it is important that the government operate some of it's own equipment and it makes good economic sense to ensure that equipment is well maintained.
The facility will feature five work bays, a parts department and a fenced compound. Dundas was chosen because of its central location in the region. The construction of this facility will mean the Provincial Government has a maintenance facility in each County.
Minister Currie says that the building will also reflect another focus of government in planning new construction. "The Premier has instructed that construction and renovation projects keep community use in mind. In this regard, the facility will also include a large meeting room which, in addition to meeting the needs of the department staff, will also be made available for community use. I think this is a first for a government maintenance facility and it is another way in which we can benefit the community."
Tenders will be called soon and construction will begin early this fall with the expectation the building will be ready for the winter season.