News release

Province Releases 2014-15 Highway Improvement Plan

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

Work is well underway for a busy construction season with more than 120 highway and bridge projects planned for this year.

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Geoff MacLellan is announcing the 2014-15 edition of the province's 5-Year Highway Improvement Plan today, Jan. 22, during the Nova Scotia Road Builders annual convention in Halifax.

"It's going to be a busy year for the road builders and our staff as we gear up to improve the many bridges, highways and roads prioritized for this year," said Mr. MacLellan. "The work we are doing will support communities from one end of Nova Scotia to the other."

In addition to the work outlined in the plan, the province will continue discussions with the federal government to extend twinning on Highway 103 and to complete Highway 101.

Other priorities include:

  • improving access between Bedford and Burnside Industrial Park with the construction of the Burnside Connector
  • twinning highway 104 in Antigonish to make the Trans-Canada Highway safer, less congested and quicker
  • improving the Cabot Trail and Trunk 4 in Cape Breton
  • building a new highway 103 near Port Mouton, Queens Co.
  • building an interchange at Exit 5 and 6 on Highway 103 at Ingramport, Halifax Regional Municipality

The plan outlines for Nova Scotians the major highway, road and bridge improvement projects year by year for the next five years. It also includes local road projects for 2014-15 and the project status update for 2013-14 projects. The total highway capital budget for 2014-15 is $235 million.

The province is responsible for repairing and maintaining 23,000 kilometres of roads and highways and 4,100 bridges. The cost per kilometer is over $300,000 to repave, $500,000 to $750,000 or more to upgrade a trunk highway and $3 million to twin a highway.

The 2014-15 5-year Highway Improvement Plan is online at http://gov.ns.ca/tran/highways/5yearplan/2014_15Content.asp .