News release

Route Chosen for St. Margaret's Bay Interchange and Connector

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

A route that will provide the safest intersection has been chosen for the new St. Margaret's Bay Interchange and Connector between exits 5 and 6 on Highway 103 in Halifax Regional Municipality. The route will also save the most time for motorists and provide the quickest route for emergency response organizations.

The announcement was made today, Aug. 4, by Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks.

The new road and connector was chosen from six possible options that were shared with residents and interested parties through an open house this past winter.

The route chosen is Option 3B, which is east of Kieley Lake to Ingramport, with a roundabout close to St. Margaret's Bay Road.

"This option was the one that is in the best interests of the community," said Mr. Estabrooks. "Developing this route will have the least impact on the environment, while improving existing road safety conditions and serving the most people from St. Margaret's Bay Road."

The location will affect one house. Staff from the department have begun discussions with the landowner to move the house to another location.

"We are very pleased that a connector and interchange will be constructed between exits 5 and 6 on the 103, said Jeff Fraser, director of operations, Emergency Health Services. "This will make a positive impact on emergency health service's response for the communities in the area."

The interchange and connector road are part of a multi-year Highway 103 twinning project and are included in the government's Five Year Highway Improvement Plan.

Planning and engineering work will continue, with construction slated to begin in 2014. The estimated cost of this project is $10-12 million.

The report on the route is available online at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/highways/hwy103.asp .