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Eddie Joyce, MHA for the District of Bay of Islands, says yesterday’s roads
work announcement by Transportation Minister Trevor Taylor to upgrade one
culvert in the entire district of Bay of Islands is an insult to the people
living in that district. "I was absolutely disgusted with what Minister
Taylor announced yesterday," said Mr. Joyce. "He should be ashamed of
himself for even putting out a press release. With all of the road work
needs that exist in the Bay of Islands, the upgrading of one culvert will do
nothing to improve safety in our region."
Joyce noted that he has written Minister Taylor several times outlining
dangerous sections of road that need upgrading in the Bay of Islands. In
McIvers, the road has deteriorated to a state where cars are sustaining
damage; at the beginning of Irishtown-Summerside, water and sewer work
completed last year has damaged the road and requires recapping; while in
Halfway Point and between Blomidon Brook and York Harbour, rocks are falling
from the cliffs and landing on the road. There have already been several
accidents as cars have hit these rocks. Department of Transportation
officials have recommended all of these projects be completed for safety
reasons.
"I have written the minister three times outlining the needs that exist
in the Bay of Islands. In addition to my letters, all of the mayors on the
North Shore of the Bay of Islands have written to the minister. Not one
letter has received a response. Four sections of highway in particular are
hazardous and could eventually lead to a serious accident. Sections of road
in McIvers and Irishtown-Summerside are in desperate need of upgrading, and
a stretch of highway in Halfway Point and another between Blomidon Brook and
York Harbour are in need of gabion baskets and rock walls. These four
sections of road are very dangerous and are causing major safety concerns.
"It is incumbent upon government to maintain safe roads in the province.
During the election campaign, the premier stated that upgrading roads in the
Bay of Islands was a priority. I guess these upgrades were only a priority
if his candidate was elected. Politics should not play a role when
allocating road money, safety should be the main priority. I encourage the
minister to release the department’s priority list and show exactly where
these projects place on that list. If a serious accident occurs in either of
these areas, the minister is certainly well aware of these dangerous
sections of road."
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