Office of the Official Opposition
For Immediate Release

 
St. John’s, NL (April 17, 2020) – PC Opposition Transportation and Works critic Barry Petten has been beating the drum to ensure that work on Route 60 remains as infrastructure work to be completed this year.

There are areas of Route 60 that have drastically deteriorated, with erosion of road shoulders and potholes peppering the route.

Petten, who is also the MHA for Conception Bay South, has not been alone in his efforts, as Harbour Main MHA Helen Conway Ottenheimer and Topsail-Paradise MHA Paul Dinn have also been lobbying the government, and more specifically Transportation and Works Minister Steve Crocker, to address the route issues.

Petten said, “Route 60 is a big concern and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the concerns are not going away and in fact will only get worse. I have had regular dialogue with the Minister and will continue to do so to ensure the work needed is completed”.

Dinn has communicated with Minister Crocker on a number of occasions, as well, concerning Route 60 through Topsail and has been encouraged by responses. “I’ve spoken to Minister Crocker on several occasions as well as sending pictures and correspondence. He has noted the challenges on work crews with regards to COVID-19 restrictions, but he has committed to address the conditions of Route 60 through Topsail.”

Conway Ottenheimer in the meantime is pleased with the team approach noting, “This is an important infrastructure issue that runs from Topsail to many communities in the Harbour Main district with real deterioration in certain areas. Rather than working in silos, hopefully our collective efforts will result in successful highway improvements.”

Petten, Conway Ottenheimer and Dinn are all too well aware of the challenges the pandemic is creating for getting work done and realize all work may not be completed, but as Petten noted, “We all have to work together to flatten the curve on the pandemic, and ensure work is conducted in as safe a manner as possible, but regular infrastructure work needs to continue to the greatest extent that it can. Our roads will continue to deteriorate through the spring, and that will present safety concerns if work isn’t done.”

“Efforts must be made to ensure the safety of our motorists and pedestrians. At some point in time, we will return to normalcy, so work must go on to ensure the transition back to normal is as smooth as possible,” said Petten.

Contacts:

Bradley Russell

Director of Policy and Research

(p) 1.709.729.3668

BradleyRussell@gov.nl.ca

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