Don't build new, fix 'dilapidated' roads, says Green leader

The P.E.I. government should focus on fixing up the roads we have, rather than trying to build new ones, says Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker.

Bevan-Baker tied his concern to an accident earlier this week. A fisherman on the way to the wharf hit a deep depression in the road and was taken to hospital.

• Man injured driving over collapsed roadway

He questioned the wisdom of spending $32 million in provincial money to build a bypass around Cornwall.

"Travel the roads of P.E.I. and you can see what a dilapidated state they're in," said Bevan-Baker.

"This is not the only old, failing culvert on Prince Edward Island. My question was how many more of these are waiting to happen?"

Investment 'for safety and for the economy'

Transportation Minister Paula Biggar argued the Cornwall bypass is an important economic investment.

She said 500 trucks a day exit Charlottetown through Cornwall.

"Those are high traffic export areas for fishing and farming," said Biggar.

"We are investing those dollars in infrastructure for safety and for the economy to keep traffic moving."

Biggar also noted half the money for the project is coming from the federal government.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Charlottetown pedestrian/bicycle accidents: Where and when they happen
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |How busy is the beach? Check the website