The drive into and out of high school in West Prince is about to get a little safer.
The Department of Transportation and Public Works today announced that in order to accommodate safety concerns additional turning lanes are being constructed on Route 2 (Veterans Memorial Highway) at the entrance to Westisle Composite High School in Elmsdale.
"The new turning lanes that are being added will enhance safety both entering and exiting Westisle High School," said Transportation and Public Works Minister Gail Shea in announcing the work. "Given the large volumes of traffic coming in and out of our schools each day, projects like these are very important."
Westisle High School is the only high school in West Prince, with over 800 students and staff from across the region traveling in and out of the facility daily throughout the school year. Numerous groups such as the Western School Board and the Town of Alberton have requested this work to be done.
"We feel that this work has been badly needed since this is the primary highway in West Prince for travellers and industry," said Jim MacIntyre, Principal of Westisle High School. "Having this road widened is a great asset to helping improve safety at the school."
"This work taking place will help increase the overall safety of students, staff and visitors throughout the school year and is something people in the community have been eager to see done," said Alberton-Miminegash MLA Cletus Dunn in welcoming the work.
The work to be done includes construction of both left and right turning lanes into the high school on Route 2. The project was successfully tendered by HI Construction of Alma and is scheduled to be completed approximately by September 15. The estimated cost of the project is approximately $325,000.