Status of Land Assembly and Environmental Review - Completing the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick
Property is required from about 450 owners for the new four-lane Trans Canada Highway between Fredericton and Grand Falls. This represents about 3,100 hectares of land.
Property has been acquired or agreements reached with 127 owners to date, including 37 houses and three businesses. This represents approximately 570 hectares. Negotiations are ongoing for the acquisition of seven remaining houses, as well as remaining farm and forestland. The total land assembly for this highway is to be completed by summer 2004.
The three remaining segments: Grand Falls to Aroostook; Perth-Andover to Woodstock; and Pokiok to Longs Creek, have all been registered as projects with the New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government.
The environmental report for the Pokiok to Longs Creek segment has been submitted to federal and provincial environmental regulators. This study provides information as part of the federal environmental screening report to be prepared by Transport Canada under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), as well as provide responses to questions raised under the New Brunswick Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. A determination for this segment is expected in the next few days.
The environmental reports for the Grand Falls to Aroostook segment and the Perth-Andover to Woodstock segment are to be submitted in October to the federal and provincial regulators for review. A determination for these two segments is expected to be received in spring 2004.