Province seeks consultant for Trans-Canada extension environmental assessment
Government is seeking a contractor to conduct an environmental impact assessment on the second phase of the proposed Trans-Canada Highway extension in Cornwall.
An environmental assessment will help protect habitat and wildlife as construction continues on the 9.5 kilometre project between Maypoint Road and New Haven. The first phase was completed in 2016 and the second phase – running north of Cornwall from North River to New Haven – is scheduled to begin this year pending approval of the environmental assessment.
An average of 500 transport trucks leave the province with Island goods on the Trans Canada Highway each weekday. Prince Edward Island’s export growth led all Canadian provinces and territories in 2015 at more than 16 per cent.
“The Trans-Canada Highway is Prince Edward Island’s main economic corridor connecting our Island industries to national and international markets,” Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar said. “We need a safe and efficient corridor to move our goods and services to market that also respects the natural environment that we all share as members of our Island community.”
The environmental assessment will identify the project’s potential impact on environmental and social factors including agriculture, aquatic and terrestrial habitats, socio-economics, and noise. Tenders will be accepted until January 23 with the completed assessment expected by early this summer.
The results of the assessment will have to be reviewed by the Department of Communities, Land and Environment before permission is granted to construct the second phase of the extension. The department has been working with local communities and environment groups to identify environmentally-significant areas, and to carry out protective measures and improvements during construction.
“We are currently executing a multi-year watershed management plan for the Clyde River and are very pleased to have an opportunity to collaborate with government on this project. The alignment of our project`s goals will ensure that our habitat improvement actions will be more effective in the long run " said Mike Durant, President of the Central Queens Wildlife Federation. "Riparian zone planting, fish passage improvement and wetland creation and enhancement are just a few of the possible activities our watershed group and the Department can work to cooperatively complete.”
The Trans-Canada Highway extension will enable development within Cornwall by easing traffic volume and removing restricted access its main through-road. The town of Cornwall will have the ability to expand and increase development – both residential and commercial - on the former TCH as this section of highway will become a collector infill area.
For more information on the Trans-Canada Highway extension visit www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/cornwall-perimeter-highway-project.
Backgrounder
The Trans Canada Highway extension project includes three phases:
- Phase 1 – construction of roundabouts at Poplar Island and at Maypoint Road (completed in 2016);
- Phase 2A – construction of a roundabout at intersection of York Point Road and TCH (spring/summer 2017); and
- Phase 2B – construction of a new highway alignment from the York Point Road intersection to New Haven (subject to environmental impact assessment).
Project completion is expected in 2019.
Economic impact
- The Trans-Canada Highway realignment will contribute $42.9 million to Prince Edward Island’s GDP during the construction period.
- This project will create a total of 502 person-years of employment during construction.
- $8.3 million of additional federal and provincial tax revenues are expected during this period.
Media contact:
Ron Ryder
Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy
902-368-5112