‘Finally’: N.B. tourism route to be fixed up next year

A New Brunswick man has been fighting to fix the highway near his general store.

For years now, Stephen Robb has been fighting to get the highway that runs past his general store fixed up.

He’s written to the premier’s office, plead with the Department of Transportation (DTI) and done countless interviews with the media.

His words didn’t fall on deaf ears.

The province recently announced upgrades to Route 955 that runs through the municipality of Strait Shores.

“Amazing, amazing. Finally,” said Robb. “It’s been a longtime coming.”

DTI spokesperson Jacob MacDonald said an eight-kilometre chipseal project from Murray Road through to Morris Road is planned for next year.

The total cost of the work is expected to be between $1.5 and $2 million.

Robb said the province hasn’t done any infrastructure work on the road since the 1960s.

“It’s going to make a big difference to this community in terms of our economic prosperity as well as safety for residents and visitors who want to walk and ride bikes on the road,” said Robb.

The road is a tourism corridor and a scenic route for locals and tourists coming to and from Prince Edward Island.

During the summer season, tourists flock to campgrounds and Murray Beach Provincial Park and they shop at Robb’s Loella’s Country Market in Little Shemogue.

Better roads will mean more tourists in July and August and more business for people in the area.

Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton said she’s been fighting for the provincial government to do work on Route 955 for years and is now relieved to hear some significant work will be done.

“This is good news for Strait Shores. For the people that live there obviously in terms of safety. In terms of transportation, but also in terms of tourism and business,” said Mitton. “I think it’ll make a big difference in the daily lives of folks in the area as well as anyone who comes to visit.”

Both Robb and Mitton have heard complaints from visitors about the condition of the road.

“I have literally had people from other provinces complain to me about some of the roads in the area so this is good news,” said Mitton.

It’s a positive sign for the people who live in the area year round.

“Particularly now that there’s money attached to it that was provided by the Department of Transportation so now they know it’s a real thing,” said Robb.

Scott Stright lives down the road from the market.

“It’s pretty exciting. It’s been bad as long as I can remember as a young fella and I’m 24 now,” said Stright.

Mitton said the province did do some patch work this summer and the road is in better shape now than it has been in past years, but more work is needed.

“Murray Beach Provincial Park is on Route 955 so you do really have large vehicles that are travelling along that route and obviously we need to be able to advertise that hidden gem for some people and be able to attract them,” said Mitton.

Mitton thanked Robb and people in the community who have been advocating persistently to have work done on Route 955.

“He’s been fighting for at least three years that I know of for sure,” said Stright. “No else has made the attempts that he’s made. It goes quite a long ways.”

MacDonald said future work will be subject to a tender process and contractor scheduling and date on when work will actually start isn’t available yet.

Robb thanked Mitton for her support saying she’s had his back in his efforts to get the road in better shape and he also acknowledged Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson for how he dealt with the ongoing matter.

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