PORT ELGIN, N.B. – The provincial government will invest $9 million in paving, resealing and chip sealing projects in the Memramcook, Tantramar and Port Elgin areas this year as part of its 2018-19 capital budget.
“These strategic investments in roads and bridges are key to spurring economic growth and stimulating the local economy,” said Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Bernard LeBlanc.
The government will pave a 2.4-kilometre section of Route 15 from the hydro lines to the traffic circle; a 1.3-kilometre section of Route 16 between the Gaspereau River Bridge and the Route 15 traffic circle; and 400 metres at the traffic circle area in Port Elgin. Other paving will be done on a five-kilometre section of Route 2 from the Aulac River Bridge area to the Missaguash River Bridge, and 7.3-kilometres of Route 2 from the Route 106 underpass to the Memramcook scale site.
The government will also chip seal and reseal a 4.4-kilometre section of Route 955 between Route 16 and Murray Road; seven kilometres of Route 960 between Upper Cape Road and Immigrant Road; and a 4.7-kilometre section of Brooklyn Road from Goose Lake Road to the gravel road. Chip sealing and resealing will also be applied to sections of Route 955, Davis Road, Goose Lake Road, Cookville Road, Fort Moncton Road, Green Road, Immigrant Road and Uniacke Road.
Other investments in the region include a previous announcement under the Municipal Designated Highway Program, where the government and the Village of Dorchester will fund storm sewer, curb and gutter work, as well as paving on a 500-metre section of Main Street between Harrop Avenue and Water Street. Under the same program, the government and the Town of Sackville will fund reconstruction of a 300-metre section of Main Street from Union Street to Queens Road. The Village of Memramcook is joining the government in funding the paving of 3.4 kilometres of Route 925 between the Belliveau Creek area and Centrale Street.
The Municipal Designated Highway Program allows municipalities to apply for funding assistance for capital upgrade projects. Funding for the program has more than doubled since the 2014-15 fiscal year, increasing to $25 million in 2015. It has remained at that level as part of a government commitment to sustain funding for municipalities.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has a $688.2-million capital budget to invest strategically in its buildings, highways and bridges. Strategic investments in infrastructure are a key component of the multi-year New Brunswick Economic Growth Plan, the government’s framework for growing the economy and creating jobs.
