Ministerial Statement – Completion of Team Gushue Highway Will Improve Safety and Access

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Fred Hutton, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and Minister of Rural Economic Development:

Speaker, the last phase of the Team Gushue Highway was identified as a key provincial infrastructure priority, involving the completion of a north-south arterial highway route in St. John’s and Mount Pearl. It is a project that will provide significant benefits for years to come. That is why I was delighted to join our Premier in September to announce the awarding of a contract for $30 million to Bursey Excavating and Development for its completion.

Once completed, this highway will provide an alternate and more efficient route for residents on the southern Avalon to access key provincial services and infrastructure, including the province’s largest health care and post-secondary facilities. This project will alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety and enhance access to and from the cities of St. John’s and Mount Pearl and the surrounding urban and rural communities.

Speaker, this highway represents more than just asphalt and concrete. It symbolizes our government’s commitment to improving the quality of life for the people of the southern Avalon and improving connectivity. First envisioned in the 1970s, its impact will be felt throughout the broader community, strengthening our economic foundation and providing benefits for residents.

I am also delighted to inform this honourable House that construction on the multi-year project began a few weeks ago, with an anticipated completion date of fall 2026.