ENGLEE, N.L.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
CANADA
Given the state of some of the roads in the province, few would argue any time a town can get some paving with funding from the province and federal government is a good time.
However, the timing of roadwork in and around Englee last week, may have been a bit unfortunate for the town, which was celebrating its Come Home Year.
“This is a great thing,” tweeted Russell Stockley, a Gambo man who was in town with his family for Come Home Year. “However, paving the provincial portion at the same time of their Come Home Year festivities is certainly causing some frustration around town and rightly so. Of all times, why now?”
Stockley’s tweet was in response to a tweet by St. Barbe – L’Anse aux Meadows MHA Christopher Mitchelmore for praising the project and the partnership between three levels of government that made it happen.
“The contract was set in the spring, and the contractor has been crushing stone and was hoping to be paving this past week,” Mitchelmore responded. “Certainly would not want to see paving delayed and deferred another season given the narrow window.”
Stockley told The Northern Pen he didn’t really buy the argument that the work could not be put on hold briefly.
“Paving is being done next week for 433, so why not wait until then to start the project?” he said.
Englee Mayor Stephanie Fillier noted the timing wasn’t ideal, but wasn’t letting it get in the way of the celebration.
“It’s a little uncomfortable with so many people around, but we’re doing just fine, (the road crews) have been very considerate,” she said. “For example, we had kids trick or treating the other day and they were very patient and even took a break during it. They’ve been very accommodating.”
And despite traffic delays, she said, it wasn’t keeping people away.
“Come Home Year is going awesome,” she said. “We’ve had a wonderful turnout. For example, we had a variety show the other night and we think they had 420 people, and that was just at the variety show.”
The mayor was not letting the timing of the roadwork dampen how pleased she is that it is being completed.
“We’re very happy — we can’t wait for it to be done,” she said.
