Press/Stories
Harbour Passage Bentley/Chesley to begin construction
For Immediate Release – February 3, 2006
(Saint John, NB) – Harbour Passage is about to get even longer! Saint John City Council has awarded a $989,000 contract to Galbraith Construction Ltd. to extend the trail towards the west side. Site work is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
Harbour Passage - Bentley Street and Harbour Passage - Chesley Drive will continue the popular cranberry trail in two directions. Harbour Passage - Chesley Drive will continue from the pavilion at Bentley Street along the waters’ edge to the Ocean Steel parking area. A gentle sloping of the trail to the sidewalk on Chesley Drive will make the trail easily navigable and will provide spectacular views of the St. John River meeting the Bay of Fundy. A major component of this portion of the trail is a “switchback” ramp at the pavilion that will provide barrier free access between the trail and pavilion. This will assist those with mobility issues to travel from the bottom of the pavilion to the viewing area at the top to rest or to simply enjoy the panoramic view of the harbour.
Harbour Passage - Bentley Street will connect the trail from the pavilion on Chesley Drive, up Bentley Street to Douglas Avenue. This is the first portion of the trail to be built in an existing residential area. The construction and design will be integrated with the residential development project currently under construction.
“We’re very excited to be moving forward with this project”, said Mayor Norm McFarlane. “Harbour Passage is a real success story and is a major factor in the development we’re seeing on the waterfront and in the uptown. The investments in Harbour Passage are already paying cash dividends with the resultant developments expanding our tax base and proving that Saint John is on the move.”
Minister of Training and Employment Development for the Province of New Brunswick, Margaret Ann Blaney, was instrumental in garnering support from the provincial government for this project.
“The entire southern New Brunswick caucus is very supportive of the Harbour Passage project as it’s proven to be a key catalyst for economic growth in Saint John.”
Over $5.3 million has been contributed to the design and construction of Harbour Passage since 2002. All three levels of government as well as the private sector have invested in this community initiative. Investment by the City of Saint John totals 40% of the funds raised with 31% from the Province of New Brunswick. Private sector contributions make up for a full 25% while support from the Government of Canada through ACOA totals 5%.
Operating under the direction of the Saint John Development Corporation, and reporting to Saint John Common Council, the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership is comprised of the City of Saint John, Saint John Development Corporation (a subsidiary of the City responsible for the development of major community infrastructure projects), Uptown Saint John Inc., Enterprise Saint John Inc., Saint John Board of Trade and the Saint John Port Authority.
The Partnership’s mandate is to channel, focus and direct the community of Greater Saint John’s collective energy and enthusiasm for waterfront development.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ross Jefferson,
General Manager
Phone: 674-4152
e-mail: Ross.Jefferson@sjwaterfront.com