Newly Twinned Section of Highway 104 Officially Opens

Motorists in Nova Scotia are benefitting from a newly twinned section of Highway 104 between New Glasgow and Pine Tree Road.

MLA Jim Boudreau, on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks, and Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, marked the completion of the 7.5-kilometre section of highway today, Sept. 18 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It opened to traffic on Sept. 2.

"This project is an important part of the province's ongoing efforts to upgrade Highway 104 in the New Glasgow and Antigonish areas," said Mr. Boudreau. "By working in partnership with the federal government we're helping our economy, providing good jobs and making our roads safer."

"This project is another example of how the government of Canada, in partnership with the provinces, is taking action to deliver world-class infrastructure for Canadians," said Mr. MacKay. "This newly twinned highway will improve the efficiency of the highway system in Nova Scotia and the national highway system as a whole."

The total cost of twinning Highway 104 between New Glasgow and Old Pine Tree Road is $22-million, with the federal contributing $5.85 million under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the province funding the remainder of the costs. The paving is part of a $310-million investment in highways this fiscal year, the second-largest highway improvement budget in Nova Scotia's history.

Highway 104 combines with Highway 102 as the primary provincial highway link between Halifax and Sydney. It is also the primary interprovincial highway link with New Brunswick and with Newfoundland and Labrador through the Marine Atlantic ferry services out of Sydney.

The provincial and federal governments are co-operating to further twin Highway 104 to Sutherlands River and in the Antigonish area. The improvements will bring additional economic benefits to the residents of Nova Scotia.