SAINT JOHN, N.B. – New Brunswick needs to provide $28.3 million for a truck route to the city’s east side if it’s serious about creating jobs in Saint John says veteran councillor Peter Trites.

He says the new route, which should include an interchange on the throughway, should be built as soon as possible.

“The province hasn’t put a lot of money into the infrastructure of this city for a long time,” says Trites who is also the president of Saint John Industrial Parks.

“I think they will be more than willing to make an investment somewhere.”

The province already knows the importance of creating a new truck route to the two industrial parks and the oil refinery.

The throughway was originally built in the 1970s when the province had installed footings for the interchange. The project was never finished.

Trites wants the provincial and federal governments to cover most of the costs.

“We have to concentrate on rebuilding our own streets and getting them back in shape,” he says of the municipal government’s role.

Trites says the project probably wouldn’t be completed by next year, but he wants city and provincial officials to get moving as soon as possible.