Changes coming to one of Charlottetown’s busiest intersections starting next year

The chair of Charlottetown's public works committee says a solution is in the works to improve traffic congestion at one of the city’s busiest intersections — but it will require some patience. 

City councillor Mitchell Tweel regularly hears complaints from residents about the spot where Belvedere Avenue and University Avenue connect. 

“The traffic here at this particular intersection, Belvedere and University Avenue, is unprecedented,” he said. 

"This intersection experiences 25,000 cars a day."

But he said much of that bumper-to-bumper congestion will be resolved with the help of the city’s University Avenue Master Plan. 

The revitalization of University Avenue would reach from Belvedere Avenue to Euston Street. It's set to include new right-turn lanes, a centre median, two new intersections and bike lanes to improve traffic flow along the avenue, which runs through the centre of Charlottetown. 

City officials initially planned to start construction as early as 2024, but they said negotiations with stakeholders were holding things up. 

Tweel said there are still some loose ends to be tied up, but they are making progress. 

“[We’re] still meeting with some of the stakeholders, some of the property owners in terms of land acquisition,” he said.

“University Avenue will undergo a major, major change.”

The project is now expected to begin construction sometime in 2027, and will start with jobs below-ground — like more storm water infrastructure and other water and sewer work.  

Tweel added that the project is looking to be a $20 to $30 million investment, so it’s important for things to be done right on the first try. 

“In order to get it right the first time, we need some of the fibre optic companies and Maritime Electric to come to the table and work with the city of Charlottetown in a very collaborative manner."  

The project will be implemented in a total of six different phases.  

It’s no surprise, according to Tweel, that the intersection has gotten so congested. He said he’s been ringing the alarm for years that the city isn’t designed to hold the amount of people who now live and work here. 

“Not even during the peak time of the year, we’re servicing at least 125,000 to 150,000 cars a day… and it’s a symptom of the population growth in this city,” he said.

“I think it’s just a sign of the times… The city of Charlottetown is not built for all this traffic, let’s be clear about that.”

Tweel said he would like to see more support from both the provincial and federal governments to keep up with changes to infrastructure.

“They’re going to have to come to the table in a big, big way to help with facilitating all the construction that has to be done.”

The city council approved its wish list for funding back in September under what used to be the federal government's gas tax program, which is now known as the Canada Community Building Fund. 

It wants $20.8 million for a number of projects, including phase one of the University Avenue redesign, which would include work from Belvedere Avenue to Nassau Street.

Most of the spending for that project, if approved, won't come through until the 2027-28 fiscal year.