News release

Integrated Transportation Corridor Not Feasible

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (Oct. 2007 - Feb. 2021)

A proposal to develop an integrated transportation corridor in Halifax will not move forward.

A report examining the feasibility of developing a roadway into the CN rail corridor to consolidate truck and rail shipping says costs are too high from a Gateway perspective. The report estimated the project would cost more than $220 million.

"Using the existing corridor for commercial vehicles and public transit has been studied at a high level, but this was the first detailed study that looked at all aspects and provided a full costing of the project," said Brooke Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal on behalf of Angus MacIsaac, Minister responsible for the Atlantic Gateway. "This report gave us the valuable information needed to make the right decision about this proposal.

"We will continue to identify opportunities to improve the competitiveness of our province's assets with Nova Scotia's Gateway partners."

The integrated transportation corridor was one of several projects identified for consideration under Nova Scotia's Gateway initiative. The goal of the initiative is to maximize strategic use of Nova Scotia's transportation infrastructure to move goods and visitors through the province.

"I want to thank the many partners and citizens who took the time to give their input and ideas during the study," said Mr. Taylor. "We appreciate all of the ideas put forward and encourage all stakeholders to continue their interest and work to improve our shared transportation system."

The final report can be viewed online at www.nscorridor.ca .

A number of projects have begun to support Nova Scotia's Gateway initiative, including pre-dredging activities in Sydney Harbour, planning the Burnside Expressway, twinning Highway 104, building a multi-user air cargo facility at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, educational programming led by Dalhousie University and various partnerships with the private sector.

Nova Scotia is also an integral partner in the Atlantic Gateway, a regionally based partnership among the four Atlantic provinces, Transport Canada and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency that will deliver a regional strategy to guide Gateway activity by October.