Upgrades Continue on 100-Series Highways

Work on Nova Scotia's 100-series highways will continue at an impressive pace during the 2010 construction season. Contracts totalling $29,837,646 have already been awarded for work in Halifax Regional Municipality and five counties.

"Not only are we making our highway system stronger and safer, we're also creating good jobs for Nova Scotians and growing the economy," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "We've been very aggressive in working out funding agreements with the federal government on all these projects and Nova Scotians are the winners."

The contracts, all cost-shared with the federal government, involve work at the following locations:

• Colchester County, Highway 104, repaving of westbound lanes between Exits 13 and 17 plus the construction of rumble strips from Exit 15 for 30 kilometres to the Pictou County Line. The contract for $3,142,107 was awarded to Cumberland Paving and Contracting Ltd.

• Digby County, Highway 101, construction and paving of roads and ramps to connect the Hectanooga Interchange to Highway 101 at Exit 32. The contract for $4,865,073 was awarded to Dexter Construction.

• Halifax Regional Municipality, Highway 101, repaving from east of intersection with Highway 102, west for 4.2 kilometres. The contract for $3,138,903 was awarded to Dexter Construction.

• Hants County, Highway 101, repaving between Exit 5 and 5A, including ramps, for 5.1 kilometres plus repairs to Wentworth Road underpass. The contract for $2,022,691 was awarded to Dexter Construction.

• Pictou County, Highway 104, construction of four bridges for the continued twinning of Highway 104 to Sutherlands River. The contract for $14,219,454 was awarded to Dexter Construction.

• Victoria County, Highway 105, repaving of three sections near Baddeck. The contract for $2,449,418 was awarded to Cumberland Paving and Contracting Ltd.

Three other contracts for 100-series highway improvements, totalling $12,093,912, were announced on March 10.

"By taking advantage of federal dollars available for work on 100-series highways we're also freeing up other provincial money for work on our other important routes," said Mr. Estabrooks.

The department'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 district offices in Bridgewater, Bedford, Truro and Sydney.