City updates 5 year plan for designated highway maintenance

Engineering department updates priorities for next 5 years on designated highways in city

There are sections of streets in the city that fall under the Designated Highway program, and the cost of maintaining them is shared by the city and the province. The city’s share of the expense can be up to 50% but is often closer to 25%. Those streets include King George Highway, Route 126 in Nelson, Wellington Street from University to Loggieville, and Islandview Drive in the city limits.

Every year the city updates its 5 year plan and prioritizes work to be done on these streets. The plan is a requirement for the province to consider funding the projects, but they are not always funded. For example, in 2021 the city prioritized work on the King George Highway in anticipation of increased traffic due to the pending Centennial Bridge closure, but the province did not approve any of the work. 

Related story: https://www.miramichionline.com/posts/Province-will-not-contribute-to-any-KGH-work-in-2021

The province said the list of work put forward by all municipalities was 6 times the budget, and therefore some work was not approved.

Going forward, the City of Miramichi’s 5 year plan for designated highways looks like this:

2022

King George Highway from old courthouse to Old King George Highway (infrastructure, paving and curbs) - $1.8 million

King George Highway sidewalk extension at French Fort Cove - $275,000

King George Highway, Nordin storm sewer and shoulder widening - $450,000

2023

Paving Nordin to Douglastown - $1.425 million

Paving Rte 126 from Island View to Nowlanville Rd - $1.45 million

2024

Paving Island View Drive from 126 to train bridge - $750,000

Relocate utilities on KGH form Sweeney lane to Regent

2025

Pavign KGH from Old KGH to Cove Road - $1 million

Paving KGH from Hennessy to Kingsway - $300,000

2026

Reconstruction KGH from Radio to Regent - $1.8 million

Paving Wellington from Forrest Corner to Loggieville - $1 million