Mobile Asphalt Plant Operational

The province's mobile asphalt plant is now in operation. The crew started work today, Aug. 3, in Victoria County.

"I'm very pleased to see this work begin and I can assure Nova Scotians that despite a late start, we will do the road work we promised," said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Maurice Smith. "Delays with the asphalt plant were unfortunate, but I'm confident that Nova Scotians will see improvements in the roads and highways in their communities."

The minister explained that the work will get done through a combination of using the mobile asphalt plant and tenders.

The province's chip-seal operation, which saved $2 million last year, continues to operate this year, generating more savings to be reinvested in road work. In previous years, the province was paying private industry $91,000 per kilometre of double chip seal.

In 2011, the province paid $40,000 per kilometre for tendered work. If the province had not started its own in-house crew, there would be no increased competition, no reason for industry to start reducing their prices. Taxpayers would still be paying top dollar.

The province has paved more than 1,900 kilometres in the last three years. More than $1 billion has been invested in paving and repaving roads and highways across the province.

"We are confident that our forward-looking five year plan is putting Nova Scotia on the right track," said Mr. Smith.