Newfoundland and Labrador Route 2

Newfoundland and Labrador Route 2, also known as Pitts Memorial Drive or the Harbour Arterial and CBS Bypass, is a four-lane divided expressway in St. John's. The road provides a direct link from the Trans-Canada Highway to the downtown core, which was previously accessible only via city streets such as Topsail Road or Kenmount Road. Construction of the Harbour Arterial began in the early 1970s and was completed in 1979. The $52-million project was funded by the federal and provincial governments.^[1]

The road bypasses Mount Pearl to the south and then runs parallel to the Waterford River on an embankment/cutting along the Southside Hills. It enters the downtown on a concrete viaduct that carries it over the Waterford River valley and the terminus of the former Newfoundland Railway. At the end of the viaduct, it meets New Gower Street which continues into downtown St. John's.

As a major route into and out of the city, the road is subject to heavy traffic and has had its share of unfortunate incidents and shutdowns.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Intersections (west to east)

Except for the Hamilton Avenue intersection, all intersections are grade-separated.

Conception Bay South Bypass section

• Legion Road (Kelligrews) - western terminus
• Foxtrap Access Road (Route 61, to Foxtrap)
• Minerals Road (to Long Pond)
• Manuels Access Road (to Manuels)
• Fowlers Road (to Chamberlains)

Upon expansion, the Conception Bay South Bypass will continue west to Holyrood.

Pitts Memorial Drive section

• Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1, also known as Outer Ring Road)
• Ruth Avenue (to Mount Pearl)
• Ruby Line (to Southlands) / Richard Nolan Drive (to Mount Pearl)
• Commonwealth Avenue (to Mount Pearl) / Robert E. Howlett Memorial Drive (Route 3) (to the Goulds)
• Columbus Drive / Southern Shore Highway (Route 10)
• Water Street
• Hamilton Avenue

After the Hamilton Avenue intersection, the road continues as New Gower Street into the downtown core.

References

1. ^ "A History of St. John's City Council". http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~melbaker/citycouncil.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-02. 
2. ^ "Man charged after high-speed chase in oncoming traffic" (HTML). CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 24, 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/12/24/pitts-chase.html. Retrieved 17 November 2008. "The RNC said the car then sped — in the wrong lanes — down Pitts Memorial Drive at more than 130 km/h." 
3. ^ "Pitts Memorial lanes shut down over accident" (HTML). CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 21, 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/10/21/pitts-shut.html. Retrieved 17 November 2008. "The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary temporarily closed traffic in westbound lanes of Pitts Memorial Drive following an early morning accident." 
4. ^ "Goodbye blizzard, hello flooding" (HTML). CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 28, 2005. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2005/01/28/nf-weather-flood-20050128.html. Retrieved 17 November 2008. "In St. John's, the eastbound lane on Pitts Memorial Drive – the arterial that connects the downtown with the Trans-Canada Highway – was closed because of flooding."