Galway interchange work will mean slowdowns but is a 'good project,' says minister

A section of the Trans-Canada Highway outsideSt. John's will be the site of a significant road project over the next two construction seasons as the provincial government pays millions to improve access to the Galway development.

Farrell's Excavating has been awarded a $10.3-million contract to build a new interchange, which will include an underpass, roundabout and ramps along the westbound lane of the highway, on the western edge of Galway.

Doing so will require the building of a temporary road to divert traffic around the construction site, meaning there will be slowdowns on the primary point of entry into the province's most populated region.

It's a big project that will benefit property owners on both sides of the highwaybut is intended primarily to address traffic congestion and safety concerns as the Galway development continues to grow.

Galway 'has taken off'

Galway "has taken off," and that means there's a need to improve thetransportation network in the area, said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Elvis Loveless.

"I've witnessed accidents myself and it's been traffic congestion and it's been bumper to bumper," Loveless told CBC News during a recent visit to the site.

"We knew it would come to a point where we have to address the traffic issue and we believe this project will ease that and will help development in this area, which we welcome as a province."

Galway is a creation of former premier Danny Williams and his company, DewCor.

It's a mix of retail, industrial and residential development, with about 300of the more than 2,000acresdeveloped in recent years.

Williams said he's spent about $100 millionof his own money to acquire and prepare the land. Developers have invested an equivalent amount to establish businesses and homes in Galway, he said, and that interest has spiked again as pandemic restrictions have disappeared and business confidence is restored.

"There will be a lot of activity. And I think that particular area will be the centre of retail and economic development on the Avalon," Williams said during a recent interview.

Williams said he spent $4 million to install eastbound access and exit ramps, a roundabout and a road leading to the Trans-Canada Highway, on Galway land. Hehas been lobbying successive provincial governments to complete the interchange to allow traffic to access and exit Galway along thewestbound lane.

Williams said the awarding of a contract last month to Farrell's is "an acknowledgement of the economic development that's gone out there."

Fuelled by the opening of a new Costco shopping centre in mid-2019,traffic flows have intensified.

Visitors from outside the St. John's region travelling east on the Trans-Canada can easily access the Galway development via a ramp constructed by DewCor. Aramp also allows for an easy exitfor motorists leaving Galway and travelling east along the highway.

However, it's much more complicated for westbound motorists, who mustnavigate a series of three roundabouts along Danny Drive, merge onto Pitts Memorial Drive,one of the busiest roads in the province, make their way to another interchange, and then enter the westbound TCH.

The interchange is intended to reduce traffic congestion along Danny Drive, Pitts Memorial Driveand local roads in Mount Pearl, said Loveless.

"I even spoke to ministers that were in this position before me and said they knew this day would come," said Loveless.

Williamssaid amajor transportation company bought land after learning the interchange would be completedand is now constructing a large building in Galway.

Loveless acknowledged that traffic flow will be interrupted for the next two construction seasonsbut said that's not unusual for such large projects.

"Between us and the contractor we will look at it from an operational perspective to ensure that traffic flows through the area," he said.

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