Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattyyy
I was reading somewhere (I forget where) that there was a high probability the Feds would come through with funding to build a bridge to replace the causeway this year. It basically argued that with no major infrastructure projects occurring in the province, lack of job growth, and the especially with the closure of the mine in Sussex major infrastructure projects will likely get more attention. Thoughts?
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Replacing the causeway would be nice, but it would provide no substantial benefit. I might be going off-topic, but I'd love to see the province think outside the box and ask for funds to build a robust shared trail network reaching all corners of the province.
Such a network would: (a) produce the initial jobs to build it (which would likely span a term longer than replacing the bridge), (b) provide long-term economic touristic spin-offs (as opposed to a bridge which would have zero returns), (c) have low recurring maintenance cost, and (d) add to our options of outdoor activities.
A few years ago, an ambitious plan to connect Acadian communities from Memramcook to Caraquet (including a link from Moncton to Shediac) had been announced, but nothing ever came out of it, and it's since been abandoned (
http://www.sentierdeletoile.ca/home.html).
Cyclotourists generally spend a lot of money in restaurants, campgrounds & hotels. In Québec,
la Route verte spans 5,300 km and was projected -- back in 2006 -- to generate economic spin-offs of $134M.
On PEI, a study showed that 59% of people using the Confederation Trail are from out of province, 63% of trail users are cyclists, and that trail-related spending accounts for 29% of all trip spending:
http://www.journalpioneer.com/News/L...n-impression/1
My own experience is only anecdotal, but I've cycled both the Confederation Trail and the Cabot Trail. With their vast network, I'll likely be cycling in Québec at some point as well. In New Brunswick, options are very limited: short in-city trails, and few rural roads with paved shoulders; the safest routes between the three main cities are on highways 1 & 2, which are hardly scenic or pleasant. We have hills in the Fundy region that rival Cape Breton's, and long flat terrain in other parts of the province similar to PEI, but we haven't thought to capitalize on this potential market.
It's a shame that we don't even have a safe cycling route from Moncton to Shediac. I may be biased, but I see so much touristic potential in being able to promote staying in a Moncton hotel and cycling to Parlee Beach, or staying in a Shediac motel and cycling to downtown Moncton, all on the comfort of a cool, shaded trail in the forest in the midst of summer.
I'm not suggesting that such an investment would pay off huge dividends, but unless we think Moncton will ever be a port city again, its economic and social impacts would still be far greater than what replacing the causeway could ever accomplish.
More options specifically within the Moncton area:
- build that AT bridge across the causeway traffic circle that the city proposed years ago;
- build an overpass over Hwy 15 to reconnect Highlandview Rd with Dieppe;
- build an AT bridge from Massey Ave to the Humphrey Brook Trail;
- build a trail along the railway from the Via station to Humphrey Brook;
- build the basic infrastructure required to support residences & retail along our riverfront...
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