The provincial government has gone to the next stage for two highway expansion projects, using a version of the P3 model.

A request for proposals (RFP) has been issued for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the highway twinning project on two sections of the TCH.

Fifteen kilometres of divided highway will be constructed between Bishop’s Falls and Grand Falls-Windsor, as well as a section about 40-kilometres beyond the current divided highway west of Whitbourne.

Transportation Minister Elvis Loveless says they had hoped to go another 20-km but that was based on a cost-sharing arrangement with Ottawa, something which has not yet been achieved so that plan is on hold.

Snow clearing and line painting operations for those areas will remain with government workers.