St. John's floats idea of toll highway

A long-standing dispute between St. John's and nearby Mount Pearl over who should pay maintenance costs on a highway that'll eventually run through both cities has resurfaced, with the mayor of St. John's now suggesting toll booths be set up to charge some drivers to use the road.

Team Gushue Highway named after Brad Gushue, who skipped Canada to a gold medal in men's curling at the 2006 Torino Olympics currently connects the Outer Ring Road with Kenmount Road in St. John's.

When it's finished in 2011, the highway will connect Kenmount Roadto the GouldsBypass Road.

The costs to clear snow and maintain the road are estimated at $700,000 a year.

St. John's wants Mount Pearl to pay 25 per cent of that bill, arguing that up to half of the drivers who use it are from that city.

But the council in Mount Pearl is refusing to pay any money towards upkeep, arguing that it's a provincial road, and the province should foot the bill.

"It is part of a provincial roads network," said Mayor Randy Simms. "We're not going to get sucked into allowing the province to download that highway on us."

On Monday evening, at the weekly St. John's council meeting, O'Keefe said Mount Pearl should be more willing to share the costs.

"For that kind of money to be, and that burden to be, shouldered by the residents and taxpayers of this city, given the fact that it's going to have such a terrific impact on both of our cities, is unreasonable and unfair."

O'Keefe told CBC News that one way or another, Mount Pearl will pay towards the upkeep.

"I've actually asked the city to have a look at it and see if we could toll that highway. If we could find a way to toll that highway, in such a way that the residents of the city would not have to pay, because they're already paying through their taxes, and those who are using it would pay a toll."

O'Keefe said the dispute points to the benefits of amalgamation, as the two city councils are fighting over a highway that is "going to serve both cities extremely well."

The idea of the two cities becoming one has been a sensitive issue for years, with past provincial governments pursuing the idea, but backing off after fierce opposition from Mount Pearl.