Valley Cross Roads Intersection Officially Opened

A newly completed intersection with traffic signals and turning lanes will improve safety for travellers at Valley Cross Roads, Colchester Co.

Education Minister Karen Casey, on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Murray Scott, spoke at an official opening ceremony of the new intersection today, Nov. 22.

"Traffic in this area has increased to the point that improvements to this intersection were required," said Ms. Casey. "I congratulate the department and the contractor for proceeding with this work so efficiently."

The development of the new intersection at Pictou Road and Salmon River Road involved purchasing land, widening the roads, constructing turning lanes and installing traffic signals. The tender for the $1.1-million project was awarded in June to S.W. Weeks Contracting Ltd.

"The increasing activity on our highways is a sign that Nova Scotia's economy is moving in the right direction," said Ms. Casey. "The volume of truck traffic at this intersection was one of the reasons it needed to be upgraded."

The signals at the intersection have been on flashing mode for about a week to help drivers become aware of them and are now going into full operation.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal's highways division manages more than 23,000 kilometres of roads in Nova Scotia. It maintains 4,100 bridges and operates seven provincial ferries. Staff provide services from offices in Bridgewater, Bedford, Truro and Sydney.