The Atlantic Road Report: Fall 2024
News and views collected from around the Atlantic region so you don’t have to!
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Communities receive funding for active transportation projects
The provincial government is providing $5 million to support 27 new active transportation projects in communities across Prince Edward Island.
The Active Transportation Fund has supported projects that encourage more walking and biking since 2020, resulting in over 100 new active transportation initiatives from community groups, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations.
This year’s funding supports a trail access map and trail restoration in Mount Stewart, a key starting point for the Confederation Trail for residents and visitors. Souris West will develop an active transportation plan to create safe walkways from local businesses to the beach and wider paths for cycling, hiking and dog walking. Cycling PEI will work on improvements to existing trails at Brudenell, Gairloch and Brookvale. Community Connections and Summerside Rotary will purchase trishaws to improve mobility options for local residents.
Past projects include 112 bike racks for schools, such as the ones at West Royalty Elementary School, 100 km of paved shoulders on Island roads and highways, and 35 km of shared active transportation pathways that are now popular locations for biking and walking.
“Building more active transportation opportunities helps the province reach its net zero emissions goals while also making it easier and safer for Islanders to get outside and get active. We need to be here for our communities so they can build, expand or replace infrastructure, setting them up for success well into the future. To me, the active transportation fund is a win-win for communities, and we couldn’t do it without the support of community groups and municipalities taking on these exciting projects,” said Steven Myers, Minister of Environment, Energy, and Climate Action.
NEW BRUNSWICK
New Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge officially open
The new Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge officially opened August 15, replacing the previous structure that has connected the two border communities for 100 years.
“This bridge is more than just a piece of infrastructure,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “It is an important link that brings communities, and countries, together. It will help us to maintain our Canada-U.S. connections with an important transportation and trade link between New Brunswick and Maine, benefiting communities on both sides of the border.”
The previous bridge was approaching the end of its service life, with the deck and superstructure showing signs of advanced deterioration. A feasibility study determined that building a new bridge would be more cost effective than maintaining the existing structure.
Maine’s Department of Transportation managed the project with the support of New Brunswick’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, in co-ordination with federal agencies in Canada and the United States. The international bridge is jointly owned by the provincial and state governments, which have a cost-sharing agreement on international bridge replacement projects.
“The new international bridge is built on a new alignment, crossing the Saint John River approximately 1,400 feet upstream from the old bridge on the U.S. side and tying into the existing New Brunswick port facility on the Canadian side,” said Robin Carnahan, administrator of the United States General Services Administration. “The new bridge features wider travel lanes and added shoulders on both sides. There is a raised sidewalk on the downstream side of the new bridge. The new bridge is designed to last 100 years.”
Demolition of the old bridge is expected to be complete by June 30, 2025.
NEWFOUNDLAND
Contract Awarded for Completion of Team Gushue Highway
The Provincial Government has awarded a contract for $30 million to Bursey Excavating and Development Inc. for the completion of the Team Gushue Highway.
Once completed, the highway will provide an alternate and more efficient route for residents on the southern Avalon to access key provincial services and social infrastructure, including the province’s largest health care and post-secondary facilities.
The Team Gushue Highway project involves the completion of a north-south arterial highway route in St. John’s and Mount Pearl. The end of the Team Gushue Highway will be connected to the Pitts Memorial Drive (Route 2) and Robert E. Howlett Memorial Drive (Route 3) interchange using a roundabout corridor. This will involve extending the paved highway from Topsail Road – where the Team Gushue Highway currently ends – to the Commonwealth Avenue, Brookfield Road and Heavy Tree Road area.
The project also includes installing drainage culverts, an overpass structure and auxiliary access roads, as well as re-aligning a section of Brookfield Road. Once completed, this project will alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety and enhance access to and from the cities of St. John’s and Mount Pearl and the surrounding urban and rural communities.
Construction on the multi-year project will begin this fall, with an anticipated completion date of late 2026.
“The completion of this highway represents more than just asphalt and concrete, it symbolizes our commitment to improving the quality of life for the people of the southern Avalon and improving connectivity. The ripple effect of this project will be felt throughout the broader community, strengthening our economic foundation and providing benefits for residents,” said Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
NOVA SCOTIA
Nova Scotia Partners with Ontario to Create More Skilled Trades Opportunities
Nova Scotia and Ontario are working together to improve recognition of international credentials for skilled trades professionals.
The two provinces have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that details the collaboration, including Nova Scotia’s efforts to recognize international credentials and improve the flow of skilled labour.
“Nova Scotia is a growing province, and we need even more skilled trades professionals to build our homes, hospitals and infrastructure,” said Jill Balser, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “We are excited to collaborate with the Province of Ontario to improve recognition of international credentials, remove barriers, share processes and lessons learned, and work together to improve labour supply in both provinces.”
Ensuring internationally educated trades professionals can have their credentials recognized quickly and efficiently is essential to addressing current labour market challenges and supporting the successful integration of newcomers.
The Province is investing $100,000 annually to support this work, which is part of the $100-million investment announced in October 2023 to recruit, retain and train more people in the skilled trades. The government is accelerating growth in the skilled trades and modernizing the apprenticeship and trades qualification system to meet the needs of a growing province.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government has an ambitious plan to build the highways, hospitals and homes our growing communities need, which means we need to create more pathways for apprentices and journeypersons who will help us build Ontario. Building on the success of our MOU with the Government of Alberta last month, we’re excited to partner with Nova Scotia to remove interprovincial barriers for skilled tradespeople. We’re also exploring new opportunities with the Atlantic provinces. This will help fill in-demand jobs across both provinces and support our mutual goals of building stronger communities,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Province of Ontario