Mary Jane Riley Road Interchange

A new interchange will be built on Highway 101 at the Mary Jane Riley Road near Cornwallis, Transportation and Public Works Minister Clifford Huskilson said today.

A contract for the clearing of property to make way for the interchange ramps will be tendered this week. The project is jointly funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia through the Economic Diversification Agreement -Strategic Initiatives Program.

Mr. Huskilson described the project as an investment in southwestern Nova Scotia's growing business potential. "This new interchange will allow direct access from Highway 101 to the Cornwallis Industrial Park," he said. "It will also accommodate heavy truck loads, which will boost the potential for doing business from this site all year round."

The interchange ramps will be constructed on the east side of the intersection of Highway 101 and the Mary Jane Riley Road (Route 612). The Mary Jane Riley Road will be upgraded to Schedule C, accommodating shipments of heavy loads into and out of the area. And a portion of the Waldec Line Road from the Mary Jane Riley Road to Burns Hill Road will be paved as part of this project.

The industrial park is currently serviced by secondary roads that are not designed to accommodate industrial traffic. The direct access for tenants to Highway 101 will increase the potential to bring in raw materials and distribute finished products destined for export markets.

"This investment enhances the Cornwallis park as an industrial site," said Mr. Huskilson. "It will help industry. It will mean jobs."

The clearing tender is the first phase of the Mary Jane Riley Interchange project. Work is scheduled for completion before December 1998.