Transportation Minister John Abbott says work on an extension of the divided highway beyond Whitbourne and in the area of Grand Falls-Windsor could get underway this construction season.

Abbott addressed the Heavy Civil Association AGM at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s Thursday.

Extending twinning of the TCH has long been something drivers and first responders have been calling for to make highway travel safer.

He told VOCM News federal funding for the project has been secured and they’re now working with external advisors to look at the design and other elements of that work, before a proposal call is made.

He’s hoping that tenders could be called this construction season at a total cost of $306 million between the provincial and federal governments.

Some ongoing projects which will continue into this construction season include work on the Galway Interchange on the Trans Canada Highway, and the Pitts Memorial/CN Viaduct.

The minimum $250 million for projects this year is part of a five-year, $1.4 billion plan for highways in the province.