Two new schools on N.B. government’s capital spending list

FREDERICTON – The New Brunswick government presented details of capital spending for three departments on the final sitting day before the Christmas break.

The Department of Transportation is projected to spend almost $410 million in the coming year on bridges, highways, buildings and equipment.

There is an increase to $25 million from about $8 million for work on provincially designated highways within municipalities, while nearly $20 will be spent to begin twinning a section of Route 11 near Shediac.

The Health Department will spend over $60 million on capital projects including:

• $1.3 million for the new Centre of Excellence – a provincial mental health treatment centre for youth.

• $4.8 million towards the construction of the Fredericton Downtown Community Health Centre.

• $15.6 million for continuing work on the addition of the surgical suite and renovations at the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton.

• $10 million for continuing work of the addition and renovation project at Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst.

• $3.5 million for the demolition of the old Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton.

The Department of Education’s $96 million capital spending plan will see work begin on 10 new projects including schools in Miramichi and Dieppe, and work will continue on 14 existing capital projects.

Those include:

·        École Marie-Gaétane, Kedgwick – school upgrading;

·        Secondaire Assomption, Rogersville – school upgrading;

·        Miramichi East – a new school to replace inadequate facilities;

·        Fredericton High – mid-life upgrade;

·        W.-Arthur-Losier, Tracadie-Sheila  – mid-life upgrade;

·        Harrison Trimble, Moncton – mid-life upgrade;

·        Dieppe Grades 3 to 8 – new school to address capacity requirements; and

·        Samuel de Champlain, Saint John – expansion to address capacity requirements.

During 2015-16, two schools will close in Woodstock and Campbellton, while three new schools will open in Quispamsis, Geary and Fredericton.