Atlantic Gateway, a plan to improve transportation links to and within Atlantic Canada, was the hot topic for Atlantic premiers Wednesday, and they want Ottawa to hand over its contribution soon.

At a meeting in Halifax, the four provinces agreed to pressure the federal government to come through sooner with money promised for Atlantic Gateway. The premiers say the federal government has the money for better rail, road, water and air links, and should get ready to spend it.

P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz said the provinces will first develop their own priorities, but there will be an attempt to make sure priorities in one province mesh with those of their neighbours.

"Each province is going to be individually different in what their ask is, with regards to the Atlantic Gateway, but we want to make sure it all works cohesively together," said Ghiz.

Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald said although each province has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ottawa and the memorandum has a two-year time frame, the federal government should not wait.

"We have a 24-month window that we have put forward in the MOU, but you know we have priorities which are now," said MacDonald.

New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham has set a priority of improving highway links. His province has just completed twinning the Trans-Canada Highway, he noted, and he'd now like to see the private company that did that work take on the job of upgrading the highway between Saint John and the Maine border.

"We're looking to see how we can maintain that public-private partnership in our province to see these vital infrastructure links built and connected to the markets that drive our economies," said Graham.

Graham said the $275-million project needs federal funds.

Improvements to highway systems in New Brunswick are a good example of infrastructure improvements in one province that will help others, Ghiz said.

"If we are going to the States, we need good highways in our province, but also into New Brunswick to help get our goods down to the U.S.," he said.

P.E.I.'s priority list should be finished by February or March, Ghiz said.