Government should stop downloading responsibility for Team Gushue Highway on municipalities

The provincial government’s decision to download operational and maintenance costs for the planned extension to Team Gushue Highway is unnecessary and creating undue stress on residents of St. John’s, Mount Pearl and surrounding communities, says Opposition Transportation and Works Critic Roland Butler.

The cities of St. John’s and Mount Pearl are in a public dispute regarding how annual operational costs for the new highway will be paid when it opens in 2011. Mount Pearl claims this is a provincial highway and the provincial government should cover the costs, not the residents of the city. St. John’s is threatening toll booths if other solutions cannot be found.

“The cities of St. John’s and Mount Pearl should not have to argue about who pays the costs associated with maintaining this highway,” said Mr. Butler. “The provincial government should not be allowed to download their responsibility to municipalities through veiled threats of not constructing the road if annual maintenance costs are not covered by residents of both cities. This road is a key piece of infrastructure in the capital region and the provincial government should not only build, but also maintain the highway.

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