A connecting link is a section of provincial highway that runs through a municipal built-up area, where responsibility and cost-sharing arrangements between province and municipality may differ from rural highway sections. When provincial highways pass through towns and cities, they often serve both through traffic (provincial interest) and local access (municipal interest). Arrangements vary: in some cases, municipalities maintain connecting links and receive provincial funding; in others, the province maintains them. These arrangements determine who pays for road maintenance, snow clearing, and upgrades. Connecting link negotiations between provinces and municipalities address the shared interest in these important transportation corridors.