Motorists Encouraged to Slow Down in Construction Zones

Warmer weather means busier roads, not only with more drivers but also with more construction crews working hard to maintain and improve the province's roads.

Starting Monday, May 13, the province, in cooperation with the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association, is running an ad campaign to remind motorists to watch their speed and be considerate of workers when passing through road construction zones.

"We're investing millions this year in building and upgrading our highways," said Maurice Smith, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "Our work crews need to be able to concentrate 100 per cent on their jobs and not have to worry about drivers speeding through their work zone."

"The Nova Scotia Road Builders Association has partnered with Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal on the work zone safety campaign for more than ten years," said Andrew Lake, president of the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association. "The program successfully delivers the message that motorists have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our highway workers."

In Nova Scotia, fines are doubled and demerit points are assigned to drivers' records for speeding in work zones. The fines, including court costs, range from $342 for a first offence to $2,412 for a third offence.

This summer road work is part of the province’s 5-Year Highway Improvement Plan and the jobsHere economic development plan to create jobs and improve highway infrastructure for residents, visitors, businesses, and industries. The province has invested more than $1.1 billion in capital highway construction since 2009. The 5-Year Highway Improvement plan is available at www.gov.ns.ca/tran.