$3.7M in highway upgrades coming for P.E.I.

Several new highway upgrades for P.E.I. worth more than $3.7 million should improve traffic flow, increase safety and boost economic growth by making links from farms to markets more efficient, the federal and provincial governments announced Monday.

• $9M in highway projects announced for P.E.I.

The projects are designed to improve the structural strength and safety of more than 5.7 kilometres of highway including stretches of Route 1 in Charlottetown and Mount Mellick, Route 2 in New Annan, Milton Station and Marshfield and Route 3 in Georgetown, according to a written release.

The federal and P.E.I. governments will evenly split the cost of the project, contributing up to $1.88 million each, MPs Wayne Easter and Sean Casey and P.E.I. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Paula Biggar noted.

"By supporting improvements to P.E.I.'s transportation routes, we will help local businesses move their goods and foster long-term prosperity in the region," said Easter.

Some work underway

"Infrastructure projects support economic growth across our province," added Biggar.

The work is already underway in Charlottetown repaving the Trans-Canada Highway between Poplar Island and Maypoint which has already been announced and realigning the intersection of the TCH, Village Green Road and Pownal Road in Mount Mellick, a spokesperson said.

In Georgetown, the Georgetown Road will be fixed up. New Annan will see a new turning lane on Route 2 at MacIntyre Road. In Milton, Route 2 will be repaved between Stockmand Drive and Lower Malpeque Road, and in Marshfield Route 2 from Jenkins Road to Beau View Lane will be upgraded.

A spokesperson for P.E.I.'s Department of Transportation said the the work in Charlottetown has already been announced, as it's a component of the Cornwall Perimeter Highway, but the rest of the funding announcement new.

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