NAPE President Jerry Earle is pleased that government will not be going with a P-3 model to maintain two new segments of divided highway.

The province previously announced plans to expand the divided highway on the Trans Canada in two high traffic sections – near Chance Cove, and from Bishop’s Falls to Grand Falls-Windsor.

Former Transportation Minister, John Abbott previously indicated that government was looking at all possibilities in the construction and maintenance of the two new sections of highway, including the possibility of a P-3 model.

That immediately drew the ire of NAPE.

Earle told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly this morning that the new minister, Fred Hutton reached out to the union to let them know that public sector workers will be responsible for maintenance of the new expanded portions of the highway.

He says “the funding model will proceed with a P-3,” but public sector employees will continue to provide the snow clearing and road maintenance.