Federal and provincial governments team up on local infrastructure projects

Three area municipalities will split $3.8 million in upper-level government funding towards some important infrastructure projects.

Tyendinaga Township will be putting in a roundabout at Belleville Road and Deseronto Road, Tweed will be replacing the Boundary Bridge, and Stone Mills Township will do some work on Durham and Brock streets, all within the next year or so.

The federal Liberals are committing $2.4 million, the provincial Progressive Conservatives are committing $1.4 million and the municipalities will pick up the rest of the cost.

Liberal MP Mike Bossio says it’s a great example of all levels of government working together to benefit area residents, including himself and PC MPP Daryl Kramp locally.

Kramp agreed that it took a lot of work to get the projects financed, especially in a federal election year, but he’s pleased they were able to get it worked out and says there should be more announcements coming.

Tyendinaga Township Reeve and Hastings County Warden Rick Phillips speaks at a funding announcement on July 29, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

Tyendinaga Township Reeve Rick Phillips says the Belleville Road and Deseronto Road intersection has been a dangerous spot, with a number of crashes recently and that’s why that project shot to the top of the township’s “to do list”.

Phillips says they have to go through the consultation period with various ministries and the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, but hope to have the project shovel-ready by sometime next year with the township and Lennox and Addington County investing $105,000.

Tweed Mayor Jo-Anne Albert tells Quinte News the Boundary Bridge has been closed since 2018 so having it replaced will make a big difference for residents and emergency personnel.

Albert says Tweed’s share of the project is $295,000 and they hope to have it done by September of 2020.

Stone Mills will pay more than $186,000 for its share of the road work there.

Tweed Mayor Jo-Anne Albert speaks at a funding announcement on July 29, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)