Traffic is now moving more smoothly through one of Charlottetown’s busiest intersections. Officials recently commemorated the completion of work to redesign and construct the Peter Pan intersection.
A high volume of traffic moves through this Charlottetown intersection, which involves four separately named streets – (the former) Trans Canada Hwy, Malpeque Rd (Rte 2), University Ave and Spencer Dr, commonly identified by the adjacent Peter Pan restaurant.
“Canada’s New Government is pleased to support initiatives that help build vibrant communities, like improving transportation infrastructure,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “This redesigned intersection will benefit the City of Charlottetown and the province for many years.”
“The busy Peter Pan intersection is one of the primary transportation gateways to our capital city,” said Premier Pat Binns. “This project will help increase overall safety and improve traffic flow, bringing positive economic and community benefits.”
“The Peter Pan intersection is a key piece of transportation infrastructure, helping flow both people and goods in and out of the capital city. Improving the safety and efficiency of this intersection will have long lasting economic and community benefits,” said Honourable Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs.
A working committee from the province and the City of Charlottetown examined various options to redesign the intersection to enhance safety and handle future capacity. In August 2006, a 4-way signalized intersection design was selected as the preferred option and construction began in September 2006. The intersection is now fully functional and construction is substantially complete, although the final seal coarse asphalt and grass seeding will take place in the spring of 2007.
“As the province's largest urban center, it is critical that the City of Charlottetown is able to build and maintain infrastructure to support its growing population,” remarked Clifford Lee, Mayor of the City of Charlottetown.
The redesign and construction was made possible thanks to $2.4 million in funding by the Canada-Prince Edward Island Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF). Through MRIF, each of the three contributing partners, the Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island and the City of Charlottetown contributed approximately $800,000.
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.