New government garage going up near airport

An 80-acre plot of land is being cleared for the new multi-million dollar P.E.I. government garage in Brackley, near the airport.

The existing government garage is in an old converted airport hanger, just off the corner of Riverside Drive, at the foot of the Hillsborough Bridge in Charlottetown.

The land cost $850,000 and site preparation will cost almost $1.7 million dollars. Transportation Minister Robert Vessey says Island Coastal came in with the lowest bid.

"We expect work will begin in the next couple of weeks, but we'll have to wait and see to make sure," said Vessey.

He also plans to move other sand and salt storage facilities near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the new garage site.

"It's a big undertaking It will be a lot more efficient and easily looked after, It's been long overdue," he said.

Opposition Leader Steven Myers questions the costs of the project.

"I'd say it's a project for his own district, the timing is really bad," said Myers.

"Obviously the province isn't in good financial shape and the books need to be put in order before the province goes into spending this kind of money, but that's not how this government rolls."

Vessey says the old location in Charlottetown will eventually be the site of a new sports and entertainment centre.

The new garage will be constructed in phases over the next three to five years and cost at least $16.5 million.