The Atlantic Road Report
News you can use gathered from around the Atlantic region
Newfoundland and Labrador
On November 24, the Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure; the Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and Service NL and MHA for Mount Scio; Ken McDonald, Member of Parliament for Avalon, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Dan Bobbett, Mayor of Paradise, announced funding for two water and wastewater projects in Paradise. The projects consist of replacing 800 metres of existing water, sanitary, and storm sewer mains and services on Ashgrove Drive and Willow Drive in Evergreen Village.
In addition, the lift station in Paradise will see the replacement of inner pipework as well as the construction of a new underground chamber and underground pipework. These projects will provide more reliable and safe infrastructure for residents and increase the capacity to manage wastewater and storm water.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is investing over $1.5 million towards these projects while the Government of Canada is investing more than $2 million through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Town of Paradise is also contributing more than $1.5 million.
“Replacing water and sewer mains is important for the protection of our homes to ensure our services work as they should and so that people can continue to have clean drinking water. Improve ments to the lift station will also ensure the health and safety of residents and municipal workers in these neighbourhoods,” said the Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
New Brunswick
Coles Island bridges detour now open
The detours for the Coles Island bridges are open to traffic, the provincial government announced November 20. “The new detour enhances traveller safety and convenience on Route 10,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jill Green. “Completing this first phase is a welcome step toward a final replacement of this key strategic resource corridor.”
The two detour bridges have been constructed to take the traffic off the existing bridges. This allows work to begin on removing the current structures and the construction of replacement bridges which is expected to start in 2021 and to take up to three years to complete.
“Transportation and distribution of goods are a vital part of our local, regional and national economies,” said federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau. “The upgrades to Route 10 increase the fluidity of trade at this strategic transportation corridor and will help local businesses compete while fostering economic growth for New Brunswick.”
The total cost of the project is estimated at $45 million. The federal government is funding $22,062,000 through the National Trade Corridors Fund and the provincial government is funding $22,800,000.
Provincial funding for this phase of the project was provided through the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s $493-million capital budget for 2019-20 and the $504-million capital budget for 2020-21.
Nova Scotia
Geotechnical Study of Highway 104 Available
A geotechnical study investigating the potential risk for sinkholes forming around the Oxford section of the Trans-Canada Highway is complete.
The study found the threat to Highway 104 is low, provided the province continues to regularly monitor for ground movement and take additional measures to control water run off from the highway and its ramps.
“Keeping the travelling public safe is our number one job,” said Lloyd Hines, Minister of Transportation. “We are moving immediately on the recommendations in the report by improving ditching and also by strengthening our monitoring program.” The department will also develop a contingency plan to be followed if subsidence is observed near the highway and ramps.
The study, conducted by Harbourside Geotechnical Consultants, examined subsurface soil and rock conditions along and beneath the highway west of Exit 6. It found that while deposits that can dissolve in water (water soluble) such as gypsum are prevalent in the area, the deposits that can result in sink holes were deep underground. Water diversion efforts from the highway area with work underway will further reduce risk.
The study was prompted after a sinkhole formed beside the Oxford Lion’s Club in the Town of Oxford in 2018.
Quick facts:
the study focused on a 500 metre section of Highway 104 just south of the Town of Oxford the investigation included or laser imagery, topographic and geological mapping, aerial photos, the drilling of six boreholes and lab analysis of the core samples the area investigated is more likely to experience gradual settling of the ground surface than a sudden collapse, according to the study. A monitoring system to detect ground deformations was recommended to manage risk at the site water soluble deposits ranged from just under 10 metres to almost 60 metres below the surface
Additional Resources:
The study is available at, https://novascotia.ca/tran/roadsafety/NSTIR-Oxford-Hwy-104-Sinkhole-Investigation.pdf
Prince Edward Island
More signs marking electric vehicle parking and charging stations will be added across the Island
The province has approved regulations under the Highway Traffic Act so that electric vehicle parking and charging stations can be clearly marked and more visible to Islanders.
The new signage regulations are a positive step in providing Islanders with clarity around where electric vehicle parking spots are located and who can use them. Businesses and organizations can also create their own branded signage under the regulations.
“Signage continues to evolve as we work towards a more sustainable future for PEI. We hope to see more Islanders purchase new or used electric vehicles and we need the infrastructure in place to make this happen. Transportation is a big cause of our Island’s GHG emissions and electric vehicles are one way to help reduce that impact,” said Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Steven Myers.
The province encourages Islanders to be aware and not take a parking space that is meant for an electric vehicle. People who park a non-electric vehicle in a charging spot will potentially face fines. “The network of electric vehicle chargers continues to grow across the Island. I think many people would be surprised at how many already exist in communities.
I hope the new signage will bring more attention to existing chargers and helps to eliminate some of the anxiety people have in terms of how far they may have to go to find a charging station,” said Minister Myers. Encouraging the use of electric vehicles is part of the Sustainable Transportation Action Plan.
Supporting more sustainable transportation in Prince Edward Island will help Islanders lower their impact on the environment, while also encouraging people to walk, cycle and use community transit more often.
