Cornwall bypass plans: Around one construction zone and through another

Cornwall to Charlottetown commuters got a chance Tuesday night to see how the province is going to handle the construction of two roundabouts along the route.

• Cornwall business owner frustrated with lack of updates on bypass

The province held a public information session to allow the public to have a look at the plans for the roundabouts at Poplar Island and the Maypoint intersection.

"At Poplar Island, we're going to do the construction with traffic actually moving through the construction zone itself. At the Maypoint intersection we're actually going to divert traffic around the construction zone," said Stephen Yeo, chief engineer for the Department of Transportation.

"That will move traffic more efficiently and give the contractor room to work, and he will be able to build the roundabout in a more timely fashion."

Bridge plan was better, says trucker

Truck driver Ralph MacWilliam was at the meeting to look over the plans.

MacWilliam said his truck will be difficult to get through the construction zone, and the roundabouts aren't much better.

He was disappointed the province dropped an older plan to extend the bypass over North River with a new bridge.

"I don't like the roundabouts. They are OK in their place but we don't need three roundabouts in five kilometres," said MacWilliam.

"They should have done what they started years ago, went straight out, the way they were going to do and build a new bridge: straight out across the bypass, right across. They even own the land."

The tender for the project closes Thursday. Construction is scheduled to start Sept. 7 and finish in November, with a cost of about $5 million.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |World-class burlesque dancing coming to Charlottetown
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Council of Canadians questions motive behind $1M donation to QEH