Nearly $5 million has been announced to make the Veterans Memorial Highway safer.
The highway has been the scene of numerous deaths and serious injuries in recent years.
Transportation and Works Minister Steve Crocker and Avalon MP Ken McDonald made the announcement Thursday morning.
Newfoundland and Labrador will contribute $2.6 million and Ottawa up to $2.2 million through the provincial-territorial infrastructure component-mational regional projects.
Work includes the creation of additional ramps at the Valley Road interchange on Route 70 in Carbonear, and the addition of rumble strips and climbing lanes along Route 75, between the Trans-Canada Highway and the Bay Roberts Interchange at Country Road.
The work marks the first time in the province’s history that rumble strips will be added to the centre line of a highway where passing is prohibited to alert motorists who inadvertently veer from their lane, the province said. The strips will also be added to the highway shoulders.
The two additional right-turning ramps on Route 70 will also increase safety and eliminate the need for vehicles, including school buses to and from of Carbonear Academy and Carbonear Collegiate, to cross oncoming traffic to exit the highway, the province said.
“These upgrades to Veteran’s Memorial Highway and Route 70 will help prevent accidents that have increased in this area by creating opportunities to pass slowly moving vehicles and alerting motorists who veer from their lanes," Crocker said in a news release. “However, we continue to stress that everyone needs to reduce their speed, put down their cellphones and pay attention while driving on all highways. We will also continue to work with local law enforcement to ensure motorists drive at reasonable speeds for the safety of everyone.”
“Far too many accidents and fatalities have occurred on Veterans Memorial Highway, which residents in the District of Harbour Main must travel on to shop, to get to work and to attend medical and other appointments,” said Harbour Main MHA Betty Parsley. “I am pleased that both the federal and provincial governments have recognized that improvements are needed. Making this section of highway safer is welcome news for residents of communities throughout this region of the province.”