The minister of Digital Government and Service NL says that a divided highway across the island is on the government’s radar but has to be looked at through what he calls a “realistic lens.”

Elvis Loveless was responding to calls at the World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims for a divided highway from St. John’s to Port aux Basques. Some grieving family members believe that a separated TCH would reduce the number of devastating and fatal head-on collisions.

Eighty-two per cent of those who responded to Saturday’s Question of the Day said they wanted to see east-west division of the TCH across the island, while 14 per cent said it depended on the cost.

Loveless says that while the concept is laudable, fiscal realities need to be considered. That said, the government is looking at its options.

“The divided highway between here and Port aux Basques, we would all love it,” says Loveless, “and certainly the safety aspect of it, but it’s very costly.” That’s why the province is exploring the idea of further expansion of the TCH with the federal government.