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MHA Parsons again implores minister to
safeguard Burgeo highway
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Liberal MHA for the District of Burgeo-Lapoile, Kelvin Parsons, is again urging the minister of transportation and works to cull the heavy brush along the Burgeo Highway (Route 480) given the high risk to travelers. AI cannot stress to the Minister enough just how serious a matter this overgrowth is. I implore of this minister once again to act immediately to address this concern on behalf of the people traveling this route,@ says Parsons. AThe fundamental obligation to the people of this province by this department is to provide a safe and efficient transportation system, not just in certain areas of the province but along every stretch of highway and they are failing to live up to their duty on Route 480. Parsons points out that he has brought this issue before the House of Assembly on numerous occasions and has written the Minister stressing the need for this problem to be corrected. AI have also started a petition that is circulating throughout the communities along the south coast and I expect by next week to be presenting this to the Minister. AI am hoping that these petitions will also help to put pressure on the Minister who is dragging his heels on this matter and get the ball rolling before there are more serious accidents or a fatality. As it stands now, driving along that 76 km stretch of road is nerve wrecking, particularly at night, when there is zero opportunity to react to avoid these large animals entering the road.@ The Liberal MHA says that a job creation program is not a practical solution to this problem, but instead is recommending that the department bring in a mechanical harvester to cut the brush. AWhile the cost has been tagged at $700,000 to carry out a complete cut to create a brush-free corridor, it is a life safety issue that is worth the investment. AI will continue to push this issue until the matter is addressed properly by Minister Hickey, so he may as well get on with doing what=s required and necessary, sooner rather than later.@
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