Trans Canada Highway Extension

The Government of Prince Edward Island is undertaking a major construction project to realign the Trans Canada Highway around the town of Cornwall. This completed Cornwall realignment project will ease traffic flow by redirecting thousands of tractor-trailers and cars that currently pass through the town every day. 

Cornwall town council, on behalf of residents and businesses, has been asking government for this new route to improve public safety and assist economic growth in the town, since the mid 1990s.

Who will benefit from the Trans Canada Highway Extension? 

Residents:

• Public Safety - road investments improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. 
• Improved access to services - once highway access restraints are reduced, the town will be able to consider new entrances and streets connecting to the road.  For example, a new entrance will be constructed leading into the Terry Fox Sports Complex, which currently only has access through a neighbouring subdivision.

Islanders and visitors:

• From 2009 to 2013, there were 159 collisions along the stretch of TCH that will be rerouted as the Trans Canada Highway Extension. 
• New roundabouts and interchanges will reduce the likelihood of accidents. 
• There will be six fewer traffic lights for drivers approaching Charlottetown from the west.
• Driving time on this route will be reduced for travellers crossing the province from Borden to Charlottetown and points east. 
• As an added bonus, removing traffic interruptions will also lower greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.  

Businesses:

• A high-quality efficient highway system will assist Island exporters, facilitate tourism and promote development of Island industries.
• When the Trans Canada Highway no longer cuts through the middle of the town, new development opportunities can be explored by local and emerging business operators. 

How busy is the existing highway through Cornwall?

• Each day during the summer, 26,400 vehicles travel the TCH from Maypoint to York Point Road. 
• Each day during the summer, 17,200 vehicles travel on the TCH from York Point Road to Meadowbank Road.

When will the work take place?

Phase 1: - Complete -  New roundabouts have been installed on the Trans-Canada at the Maypoint intersection and at Poplar Island. Work on this phase was completed in December 2016. 

Phase 2: A six-kilometre route will be constructed from New Haven to the York Point Road. This three-year phase is scheduled to begin in 2017. This phase will proceed in two parts. Phase 2A – Construction of a roundabout at intersection of York Point Road and TCH – spring/summer 2017. Phase 2B – Construction of a new highway alignment from the York Point Road

Where is the route for the new highway?

The Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy is committed to selecting a route for the Trans Canada Highway Extension that provides the least disruption to watercourses and wetlands, forested areas, agricultural land, and residential properties.

The department is analyzing options for possible configurations of the new highway. This includes an options analysis by the department, as well as an environmental constraints analysis review by an independent consultant.

Following this, department officials will contact the owners of properties along the possible configurations of the proposed highway. The preferred alignment option, with properties identified, will be presented to property owners.

Following the input from property owners, and analysis on the land and environmental factors along the proposed routes, a preferred option for the configuration of the highway will be presented to the land owners and the public for feedback.

The preferred route will also be subject to a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment that will include regulatory, stakeholder and general public review.

Public meeting times and dates will be advertised and posted on this website.

Is there a plan to protect the environment?

The project will include an environmental impact assessment led by the Provincial Department of Communities, Land and Environment. This will include an Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) which developed specifically for this project.  

Who will pay for this project?

The Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy has applied to the federal infrastructure program to help fund the project. Pending approval, this means the federal and provincial government will share the costs 50/50. The full project is expected to cost $65 million and is slated for completion in 2019.

What are the important dates for the project?

June 24, 2016 - Provincial government announced plans to seek intergovernmental funding for Trans Canada Highway Extension. Project to proceed in two phases. Phase 1 - new roundabouts at Poplar Island and at intersection of Trans Canada Highway and Maypoint Road; Phase 2 - a new highway route from the York Point Road intersection to New Haven.

June 25, 2016 - Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy begins process of identifying a preferred route for Phase 2 within a corridor north of Cornwall. Stantec Consulting engaged to analyze various options for preferred route.

July 28, 2016  - Call for tenders for construction of Phase 1.

August 2, 2016  - Information night for owners of property potentially affected by routes under consideration for Phase 2 . Opinion and information from land owners will be used in selection of preferred route.

August 9, 2016  - Phase 1 approved for infrastructure funding.

August 11, 2016  - Information meeting for operators of businesses in the vicinity of Phase 1 construction at Poplar Island and the intersection of Trans-Canada Highway and Maypoint Road.

August 18, 2016  - Closing date of tenders for Phase 1.

August 23, 2016  - Public information session on plans for construction of Phase 1.

September 7, 2016 - Preferred route for Phase 2 announced.

September 13, 2016 - Public information session regarding preferred route for Phase 2 .

September 2016 - Beginning of construction of Phase 1.

November 2016 - Completion of construction of Phase 1.

January 2017 - Call for proposals from consultants to prepare the Environmental Impact Assessment.

Winter 2016/17 - Negotiations with landowners along proposed route of Phase 2 .

Spring/Summer 2017 - Conclusion of Environmental Impact Assessment of Phase 2.

Spring 2017 - Tendering of construction of Phase 2 - if approved.

Summer 2017 - Beginning of construction of Phase 2.

Fall 2019 - Completion of construction of Phase 2.