The province’s largest union is upset with government’s intention to go with the P3 model for the extension of divided lanes on the Trans Canada Highway.

The intended move by government to go with that model means provincial road crews will not be involved in the work.

NAPE, who represent the crews, say they met with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure just last week to voice separate concerns surrounding human resources and equipment, but government did not give them any notice of this decision.

NAPE President Jerry Earle calls it a “slap in the face” and says they are not prepared to stand for it. He says the decision will impact more than just the union’s members.

He says it will put an additional cost on Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. He says the P3 projects have had issues elsewhere in the country in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and even in this province with long-term care facilities.

Earle says the cost will not be felt immediately, but it will be felt.

He says government are just kicking the cost down the road to lay some asphalt and score some “political browning points”, but the province will face an unknown cost for 25 years or more.