NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. –- By this time next year, all double-decker ferries in North Sydney will be able to load and unload upper and lower decks simultaneously.

That’s because the federal government is pumping $9.5 million into the facility as parts of its Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

Currently, Marine Atlantic operates one bi-level dock and one alternative dock. Sometimes, ships have to wait in line, which means longer turnaround times and slower freight movement — problems that has plagued the North Sydney-Port aux Basques service for a long time.

The federal government made the announcement last week, adding that the project should create about 100 jobs in the construction phase and in the long run it will speed up ferry traffic between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and therefore spike up the local economies.

North Sydney-area Councillor Gordon MacLeod said the ferry service between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland needs many things, but a second docking facility is a priority.