Opposition questions whether Cornwall bypass is necessary

P.E.I.Transportation Minister Paula Biggar was peppered with questions from Opposition MLAson Thursdayaboutthe Cornwall bypass.

The province is billing the $65-million project as one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Island history, but Opposition members who attended the standing committee on infrastructure and energy Thursday wonder ifit should be happening at all.

• Cornwall Perimeter Highway route chosen by P.E.I government
• Landowner in path of Cornwall bypass wants answers from province

The Liberals have put forward two main justifications for the perimeter highway:safety and economic impact.

However, officials haven't provided data showing if the accident rate thereis higher than in other areas, and the provincial government has not carried out aneconomic impact analysis.

'No debate on it'

SidneyMacEwen,MLA for District 7: MorellMermaid, said the PCs aren't necessarily against the bypass, but he questions the government's priorities.

"We know that there's other construction projects that will have to be impacted down the road if we're spending this much on it," he said.

He alsoquestionedwhy the expensive projectwent ahead without being included in last fall's capital budgetor the government's five-year capital plan, or even being mentioned in the legislature.

"It's $65 million, we haven't heard anything about it in any of the House sessions, no debate on it, all of a sudden it's popped on the public and we're wondering is it the priority right now for the government," he said.

'Any urban centre would laugh'

Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Bakersaid he's lived in other areas in Canada and Scotland, and drives through Cornwall every day to get to work.

"Any urban centre would laugh at the notion we have a traffic problem in Cornwall," he said. "I am almostnever held up for more than 30 seconds. It's not bumper-to-bumper traffic. Things move smoothlythrough there, and I think the safety issue that was brought up was really questionable."

MLAs also argued businesses along the existing roadincludinggas stations could be negatively impacted.

In reply, Biggartold CBC News thatonly about 6,000 of the 25,000 vehicles that move through Cornwall each day are expected to use the bypass. She also noted the economic impact of the construction itself.

Criticism from public, too

The perimeter highway will begin at the York Point Road intersection with the Trans-Canada Highway, continue west along the north side of Cornwall and rejoin the existing Trans-Canada Highway in Clyde River.

The bulk of the construction is slated tobegin in 2017 with completion expected aftertwo years.

Biggarsaid the province hasn't yet received approval for federal funding for the main constructionphase of the project. The province will apply for that funding in the next few weeks, she said.

Work began in early Septemberto build two roundaboutsin the North River area through toMaypoint.

It's not just politicians that have criticized the project. Some motorists have complained about traffic delays during construction, while others have complained abouta lack of consultation and thelack of a timeline for affected landowners.

• Resident upset Cornwall bypass not on council meeting agenda

Biggarsaid negotiations for property will begin next year and land purchases will be part of next year's budget.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |School overcrowding fix can't be delayed, meeting told
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |The Butler Is in: Thanksgiving tips for being a good guest