Government meeting on roundabout will be too late, Fox charges

PC MLA Jamie Fox is planning to hold his own meeting about a roundabout in central P.E.I. before the tender closes.

Fox said in the legislature Wednesday night the provincial meeting for the planned Newton-area roundabout, a week after the tender closes, will be too late.

"All we want, Mr. Speaker, is to have public consultations before such big projects move forward," said Fox.

"I asked the department if they would hold public consultations before this project went to tender and I was told flat out, 'No,' that there will be no consultation before it went to tender. It's very unfortunate that the department chose to go that way."

The tender closes May 3, with the government meeting on May 9. Fox has scheduled his meeting for May 2. Both meetings willbe at the Kinkora Kanata Club.

Fox is worried large farm equipment will not be able to navigate the roundabout, and brought those concerns to the legislaturelast week.

In an email to CBC News, agovernment spokesperson said the design of the roundabout takes into account farm equipment, adding there will be an opportunity at the government's public meeting to discuss the design and raise concerns with provincial engineers, and changes can be made if required.

The roundabout is expected to improve safety at the intersection, the statement says. From 2006-15 there were 19 accidents in the vicinity, including four fatalities.

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