[MonctonRad]

N.B. eyes road cash
Published Friday February 13th, 2009

Premier Shawn Graham meets Prime Minister Stephen Harper, seeks funding to twin Hwy. 11 between Shediac and Miramichi
By Mary Moszynski
Times & Transcript Staff

FREDERICTON - The provincial government is eyeing a public-private partnership to twin the stretch of highway running from Shediac to the Miramichi region, with construction beginning as early as 2010.

Premier Shawn Graham said he made the pitch for federal funds for the project during a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa yesterday.

"We could see initial construction begin in 2010-11. It would take a minimum of three to four years to complete and using a public-private partnership model, funding might not be required for several years," said Graham.

The province also wants federal funds to upgrade Route 17, which runs through northern New Brunswick.

A public meeting on the twinning of the 33-kilometre stretch of road between Shediac and Bouctouche will be held sometime before March.

Although the project can't begin immediately, Graham said it's important that government look beyond the short-term to projects that will be important once the economy recovers.

"Let's not lose sight of the long-term projects as well," he said.