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Profiles of projects in Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown Perimeter Highway - Phase 1
Project location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
The first part of this project will see the Charlottetown Perimeter Highway (CPH) expanded to four lanes, from Route 2, St. Peters Road, to Route 25, Brackley Point Road; and the intersection of St. Peters Road at the CPH will be updated to better handle peak hour queues.
In part two, the CPH will be expanded to four lanes from Route 15, Brackley Point Road, to Route 2, Malpeque Road.
The expansion of Oak Drive Overpass to accommodate the additional lanes will also be undertaken.
Chapman Brothers Ltd was the successful bidder on the first two parts of the project. The project will wrap up in the spring of 2010.
"This project will improve efficiency along one of the busiest sections of highway on Prince Edward Island. But beyond that, projects like these provide jobs and boost the economy on the Island. The Government of Prince Edward Island is very pleased to have been able to partner with the federal government to make these highway expansions a reality,
" said Ron MacKinley the Minister of Transportation and Public Works, PEI.
Federal contribution : $3,750,000
Revitalizing City Core
New Walkway for Confederation Centre
Project location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
With $525,000 from the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund, access is increasing to Charlottetown's Confederation Centre of the Arts with the construction of an underground walkway from a nearby shopping mall to the Centre complex.
While its name and location honour the Fathers of Confederation, the Centre's stages and exhibit areas foster and celebrate the performing and visual arts. Conference space, the municipal library and restaurant facilities all add to traffic using the Centre.
But accessibility to the Confederation Centre by people on foot and routine pedestrian traffic on sidewalks along the Centre's access points was not as high as it could be. To increase visitation and cultural awareness of the Centre and its many programs and facilities (and generate more revenue), the decision was made to build the underground walkway to the shopping mall, which will eventually also include a hotel.
The Grafton Street Pedestrian Pedway, as the walkway is named, is part of a long-term revitalization plan to increase tourism and promote economic development in Prince Edward Island.
With the shopping mall and hotel connected to the Confederation Centre, conference and convention traffic should also increase, as should patronage of the many visual and performing arts programs at the Centre.
Federal contribution: $525,000
University Avenue Traffic Flow Improvements
Project location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
The project to widen the two-lane portion of University Avenue—a main artery into and out of the heart of Charlottetown—is a critical piece of the City's infrastructure development.
"As Charlottetown has grown," says Mayor Clifford J. Lee, "this two-lane artery is causing traffic tie-ups. This project will significantly improve traffic flow into and out of the downtown core. Better traffic flow brings with it the economic benefits of easier travel to some of the City's bustling shopping districts, the University of Prince Edward Island campus and the Capital Area Recreation complex."
Thanks to an investment under Building Canada's Community Component, together with provincial and municipal funding, this project is underway.
While widening the avenue to reduce congestion is the main focus of this $6.3 million project, other benefits include improved road drainage. Pedestrian safety will also be improved thanks to a new sidewalk along the west side of the road and improvements to the traffic signal system.
Federal contribution
: $2,100,000
Complete Street Rehabilitation
Enhanced Appearance, Reduced Maintenance
Project location: Georgetown, Prince Edward Island
If conditions warrant, it frequently makes economic sense to co-ordinate infrastructure rehabilitation requirements into one project and only rip the streetscape up once. That's what they did in Georgetown, Prince Edward Island when Council voted to rehabilitate the corner of Water and West streets by the waterfront.
As Prince Edward Island's only deepwater harbour and shipyard, the intersection saw more than its share of traffic from heavy vehicles, residents and tourists drawn to the waterfront. With $600,000 from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, Georgetown replaced storm sewers, sanitary sewers and watermains. Once the below-ground work was complete, crews went to work replacing the roadway, building improved curbs and gutters, and rebuilding sidewalks.
Mayor Lewis Lavandier is delighted with the results. Vehicular travel at the intersection flows more efficiently, leading to increased fuel economies, and pedestrian safety has been improved. The better storm drainage will also reduce his municipality's ongoing maintenance costs and the streetscape looks terrific. "All in all, this was a great project for residents, businesses and visitors to our community."
Federal contribution: $600,000
Better Road, Better Market Access
Project location: Lady Slipper, Prince Edward Island
Route 2 is an essential road linking the far ends of Prince Edward Island and passing through a multitude of communities along its route.
In western Prince Edward Island near Lady Slipper, part of Route 2 was beginning to show its age. Structurally, it was also outdated as larger, faster vehicles and heavier traffic raised safety concerns.
The province successfully applied for up to $1.25 million from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which it matched, before beginning work on six kilometres of Route 2 near Lady Slipper. The work involved cold milling, excavating and patching potholes and selected areas of the road surface, and repairing and rebuilding shoulders before putting down two additional layers of asphalt.
Julie Smith, Chair of the Community of Lady Slipper alluded to Route 2 as a "very important section of highway" connecting her community with the rest of the province. Having it "widened and rebuilt improves the safety of our community and allows products from our primary industries to move more efficiently" to markets.
Federal contribution: $1,250,000
Keeping People Safe and Healthy
Project location: Stratford, Prince Edward Island
A busy road with a mix of vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians means safety challenges. It’s also not very conducive to promoting alternative modes of transportation.
Stratford decided bicycle lanes and sidewalks were the answer if the town’s 7,000 plus residents and a burgeoning tourist population were going to be kept safe, physically active and using cars less. To accomplish its goals, the town applied to the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund for help.
Construction began in June 2009 on widening and extending existing road shoulders along a stretch of the Georgetown Road, linking the new bicycling path and sidewalk to the existing network of walkways.
The work was done in conjunction with a sewer and water upgrade along the same road.
Federal contribution: $300,000
Effective Environmental Controls
Project location: Summerside, Prince Edward Island
With $1 million from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the City of Summerside set to work to improve storm water management with a new sewer system.
The first phase of the city-wide project focused on upgrading sewers along six streets by installing new, dedicated storm water lines, catch basins and manholes. In resurfacing the street after completing the sewer work, crews also installed concrete curbs, gutters, and sidewalks.
In another part of town a force main – a pressurized pipe carrying storm water and sewage together – is being replaced. It had broken several times in the last few years, creating the potential for environmental damage.
Phil Hardy, Municipal Engineer for Summerside points to the multiple benefits of the projects. Environmental protections have been enhanced, the potential contamination of waterways by sewage passing through the older lead pipes has been mitigated, and pedestrian and vehicle safety has been improved with wider, smoother roadways and new sidewalks.
Federal contribution: $1,000,000
Heritage Park and Gardens Construction
Project location: Summerside, Prince Edward Island
The Heritage Park and Gardens project in Summerside is providing a vital pedestrian link along the city's waterfront. It joins the new Heritage Park Gardens and Trail system, and the Provincial Confederation Trail system. Garden and tree planting, more walking paths and lighting in Heritage Park are all part of the improvements the Park will offer to residents and tourists alike. The project also extends the boardwalks along the shoreline to enhance biking and walking opportunities.
Federal contribution : $310,000
Keeping Businesses Competitive
Project location: Summerside, Prince Edward Island
A former Canadian Forces Base with an aviation presence dating back to WWII, Slemon Park, located two miles from the City of Summerside and 12 miles from the Confederation Bridge to the mainland has become home to several companies specializing in aviation and aerospace, industries that now account for 25 percent of the Island’s international exports.
With a successful application for up to $250,000 from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, matched provincially, the PEI Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal undertook some improvements for 1.9 kilometres of Aerospace Boulevard into Slemon Park.
The work involved re-milling and sealing the existing asphalt surface, widening road shoulders and making some landscaping improvements. The previously rutted and cracked roadway and narrower shoulders had made it difficult to move significant freight loads in and out of the Park.
The work has extended the life of the road by 10 to 12 years and made it possible for businesses operating from Slemon Park to move large freight loads quickly, safely and efficiently.
Diversified manufacturing, commercial and light industries, the Summerside Airport, a hotel and conference centre, restaurant and pub, and some residential housing complete Slemon Park’s facilities and also benefit from the improved roadway.
Federal contribution: $250,000
Summerside Wind Farm
Project location: Summerside, Prince Edward Island
The wind energy project will see the purchase of two additional turbines and the installation of four in total at the North St. Eleanor's site.
The Old St. Eleanor's landfill site and adjacent land areas are being used for this wind farm because of their high wind speeds and very low density of residents.
The wind farm has the potential to meet more than 25 per cent of the energy needs of the community of Summerside.
The savings in electrical costs will help benefit the City in applying those funds for improvements to the community as a whole (i.e. local communities that use the City of Summerside as its service center).
The wind farm is also seen as a tourist draw which will provide economic spinoff.
The Mayor of Summerside, Basil Stewart, said, "I would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Province of Prince Edward Island and City Council of the City of Summerside for their contribution and commitment to our city and this project that will improve the environment while supplying green energy to our customers.
"
Federal contribution : $4,500,000
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