Belleville and Quinte West road projects get more federal and provincial help

The provincial and federal governments are teaming up to hand out some cash for infrastructure projects in both Belleville and Quinte West.

MP Neil Ellis and MPP Todd Smith announced a total contribution of $8.2 million to be split between the two cities, going towards the Bell Boulevard redevelopment in Belleville and major work on King, Division and Catherine streets, as well as Dufferin Avenue in Quinte West.

The total federal contribution to be split between the two cities is $4.9, while the province is handing over $3.3 million.

Smith says he has driven through both work sites and has been extremely impressed with the progress made.

Quint West Deputy Mayor Jim Alyea, MP Neil Ellis, Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison, MPP Todd Smith and Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk, take part in an online press conference, on June 23, 2020. (Photo: Zoom Screen Grab)

Ellis gave credit to staff from both cities for their hard work in making these projects a reality.

Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk noted that the project in his city is about a month ahead of schedule on the 1.5 km stretch of Bell Boulevard, which will see the road widened to four lanes and the addition of new traffic lights, paved shoulders and sidewalks.

He says work on the west side near where Costco is proposed to go should be done by the end of June and they hope to have new traffic lights installed and running in front of Shorelines Casino by the time they’re able to welcome guests again.

He also says because of the progress so far, work is expected to start on some of Sidney Street in this calendar year as well, which wasn’t supposed to happen until next year.

In Quinte West, Mayor Jim Harrison says good weather over the last couple of weeks has helped move things along quicker than planned as well.

Those projects include underground pipe work, as well as complete reconstruction of all four roads, with upgraded wheelchair-accessible sidewalks and bike lanes.

For their part in both projects, Belleville is contributing more than $5.9 million and Quinte West is putting in $7.8 million.