GREAT NORTHERN PENINSULA, NL – One of Canada’s worst roads is expected to be paved this year.
Route 434 – the Conche highway – is one of the roads slated for funding for paving in 2018-19 under the Department of Transportation and Works’ updated five-year provincial road plan.
The plan was released in February and St. Barbe-L’Anse aux Meadows MHA Christopher Mitchelmore tweeted out the news on March 5.
Conche Mayor Charlene McGrath says the news brought a smile to her face.
She says she’s been pressing government to upgrade the road for the past 13 years, including during her time as deputy mayor from 2013-17.
She believes paving the road will benefit the town and the Great Northern Peninsula (GNP) by opening doors for tourism and the fishing industry.
McGrath points out that Route 434 has been twice named one of Atlantic Canada’s worst roads, polling in the top 10 multiple times in recent years.
The unpaved dirt road is typically peppered with potholes, with drivers having to zig-zag across the road to avoid them. McGrath feels it is unacceptable for anyone in the province to have to travel over such deplorable road conditions.
In January, she told the Northern Pen she met with the Transportation and Works officials in St. John’s and felt it was a productive meeting.
“The plan is that paving will commence this summer but there is still uncertainty as to how many kilometres will be completed this year,” said McGrath.
She’s hoping the to see the 17-kilometre road paved over a three-year period.
“I totally understand that our government is under major financial constraints right now, so we aren’t expecting to get it all completed within one year,” she said. “Although it would be ideal, but not realistic.”
One concern that still weighs on her mind is how the potential outcome of the 2019 election might affect completion of the project.
McGrath said the previous Progressive Conservative government promised the road would be paved, but it didn’t happen.
She’s worried if the government changes, the work might not go ahead after all.
“Our town was let down before by the PCs when we were verbally told we were getting pavement following the upgrades to Route 434 almost 15 years ago but it never came to fruition,” she said. “It was a huge let down for the people.”
She hopes this time will be different but adds she’ll continue advocating for a better road until all 17 kilometres are paved.
Other projects planned
The Conche highway won’t be the only GNP road to be worked on in the upcoming year.
Work will commence in 2018-19 to level and patch Route 433 from Roddickton to Englee.
Funding will also be provided to continue projects on Route 430-28 (Port au Choix road) and Route 436 (L’Anse aux Meadows road).
The Port au Choix contract includes five projects grouped together. Work will be done in and near Port au Choix, Port Saunders, Reef’s Harbour, Castors River and Anchor Point (see sidebar).
“It’s very positive to see these investments given the industry – fishery and tourism – assets, as well as health care, education and government services that are along this route,” Chris Mitchelmore told the Northern Pen in reference to work on the Port au Choix/Port Saunders route.
To emphasize the importance of these upgrades, he points out that Parks Canada saw a 60 per cent increase in tourism at the Port au Choix site in 2017.
The L’Anse aux Meadows road will see paving continue from St. Lunaire-Griquet to L’Anse aux Meadows. That project is currently 25 per cent complete.
Port au Choix road contract
Part A – Fisher Street, approximately 2.3 km from Foodland to the Port au Choix town office, will be pulverized and paved. This work will include ditching, storm sewer replacement, disposal of culverts, cutting and disposal of asphalt, placing granulars, asphaltic pavement surface course, pulverizing asphalt, supply rock fill in place, and installation of guide rail and posts.
Part B – asphalt levelling and shouldering of approximately 500 meters from Church Street in Port Saunders towards Route 430.
Part C – two 2400-mm culverts replaced in Reef’s Harbour. This work includes excavating for foundation, supply and installation of new pipe culverts for the complete replacement of the existing culvert crossing, placement of granular “A” and granular “B,” cutting and disposal of asphaltic pavement, asphaltic patching, disposal of the existing pipes and culvert.
Part D – asphalt levelling at various location near Reef’s Harbour and Castors River
Part E – paving local road in the municipality of Anchor Point. As it’s a municipal road, the town of Anchor Point will be paying 50 per cent.
