Monday, June 25, 2007

Saint John Board of Trade’s "Top 3" Transportation Priorities addressed by PM’s Transportation Announcement

SAINT JOHN, NB: Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced work is beginning on six highway projects across New Brunswick. These are part of the $207 million in federal funding set aside over the next ten years to cost-share with the province to improve National Highway System routes.

The number one transportation priority for the Saint John Board of Trade since 2002 has been the completion of the One Mile Highway Interchange.

“Today is a tremendous boost to transportation infrastructure for the City of Saint John. The completion of the One Mile Interchange will take truck traffic off our downtown streets and channel it directly to our industrial areas creating a more positive uptown experience for tourism, boosting our industrial parks and reducing wear and tear on our city streets,” said
Board of Trade, Chair Nathalie Godbout.

The Interchange has long been advocated by the Saint John Board of Trade as a crucial piece of transportation infrastructure for Saint John as it will allow the city to better leverage investments and opportunities for new investments to the energy sector and enhance the development and growth of the Green Industrial Park, Bayside Drive properties and both the Grandview & McAllister Industrial Parks. With Saint John positioned at the geographic centre of Atlantica it is vital our highway infrastructure be improved to allow our region to compete on a global scale.

“The federal re-investment announcement in New Brunswick’s highway system will bolster stronger trade routes and position our province as not only open for business but accessible and efficient,” said Godbout.

The Saint John Board of Trade has long advocated the twinning of Highway 1 therefore the announcement of the 24 km stretch of road between Pennfield and Lepreau is a positive step toward strengthening our bilateral economic access to New England.

“Another key priority for board members”, said Godbout, “is the completion of the Welsford Bypass which was also announced. Quite honestly it feels like Christmas came in June this year for our business community."