Making Roads and Bridges Better


Nova Scotia is maximizing federal funds to build infrastructure that communities need. The province has leveraged available federal dollars to support projects that make a difference for communities. Since 2009, nearly $500 million in total project funding has been invested in major highway projects through federal cost-shared agreements such as the Building Canada Fund, the stimulus fund and the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

Funding partnerships are building better bridges in many communities, such as Northport, Cumberland County, Sydney River in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, and in Heatherton and Lower South River in Antigonish.

Funding partnerships are building better highways, such as:
  • Highway 104 Antigonish Phase 1 and 2, which will make the TransCanada Highway safer, less congested and quicker
  • twinning sections of Highway 104 between New Glasgow and Sutherlands River
  • twinning Highway 125 in the Sydney River area
  • improvements to the Cabot Trail and Trunk 4 in eastern Cape Breton
  • the Highway 101 Margeson Drive Overpass and Trunk Connector and the Larry Uteck Boulevard Interchange and Overpass on Highway 102, to ease traffic congestion
  • improvements to roads in Southern Nova Scotia, such as a new Highway 103 near Port Mouton, repaving sections of Highway 103 near Broad River, Route 331 near Volgers Cove, Route 303 near Digby and Highway 101 near the Annapolis and Digby County line


Connecting communities

The province is investing an additional $3 million into a new Highway 125 interchange that will support the growing economy of Membertou and benefit all of Cape Breton. The $7-million Membertou Interchange is being built in partnership with the Federal government ($3 million from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada) and Membertou First Nation ($1 million). It will improve community connections and the local economy by linking people, services and businesses on both sides of Membertou First Nation.

Nova Scotia is also investing in a new Highway 104 interchange at Paqtnkek First Nation. The interchange will support the growing community and provide access to community lands severed more than 45 years ago during the original highway construction. The department is working closely with the community and with consulting firms to prepare the project for construction in 2014.