Highway Investment Needed

Three National Highway Policy reports released today will help raise the importance of transportation issues among all Canadians, said Clifford Huskilson, Minister of Transportation and Public Works Minister.

"A job well done -- I am very pleased with these reports and proud to add my support to this collective effort of the council," said Mr. Huskilson. "The reports raise some serious concerns about our national highway system. Canada is suffering from an infrastructure deficit that is limiting jobs and growth. I am encouraged by federal Transport Minister David Collenette's support of these reports, and I congratulate him for his stand."

The Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety released the three update reports in Ottawa today. The reports, in the works since the early 1990s, outline the costs to improve the national highway system, and the economic benefits that such improvements will bring to Canadians.

"Modern and efficient transportation networks are the wheels of the Canadian economy and critical to sustaining economic growth and improving Nova Scotia's and Canada's competitive position in the global marketplace," said Mr. Huskilson.

The main report, titled The National Highway System: Condition and Investment Needs Update 1997, says the condition of the national highway system has not changed in 10 years. It says a $17-billion investment in highway infrastructure is needed to raise the system to an acceptable standard.

But the report tempers this grim news with the estimate of $30 billion in economic benefits to Canada that would result from savings in travel time, increased safety, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, less congestion, and lower vehicle operating costs.

"If we in Canada think for a moment that we can't afford $17 billion for highways, we need to think again," Mr. Huskilson said. "The United States has approved legislation to invest $175 billion in its interstate and highway system over the next six years. Our southern neighbor understands that transportation investment is essential for a strong economy. We are part of a global marketplace, and a strong national highway system is essential for Canada to remain competitive."

Although the report identifies significant deficiencies in the national system, it compliments Nova Scotia's efforts to improve its portions of the network. Nova Scotia's construction requirements to bring the national highway system up to standard are 29 per cent lower today than in 1988, due primarily to "an aggressive program to address highway capacity needs through the construction of new highways, twinning and interchange construction," the report states.

"In light of the difficult fiscal situation we've faced since the beginning of the decade, Nova Scotia has still managed to improve the national highway system within the province," said Mr. Huskilson. "But we shouldn't be too eager to pat ourselves on the back, there's still a lot of work to do.

"Highways 101 and 125, the province's top priorities for upgrading, are part of the national system. With Mr. Collenette's support of these reports, I am encouraged that he will consider our request to renew highway funding agreements for Nova Scotia and allow us to proceed with our plans to upgrade our highways."

The Nova Scotia portion of the national highway system covers some 900 kilometres of the province's 100-series highways, trunks and routes. It includes:

• Highway 104 - 285.2 kilometres (New Brunswick border to Port Hastings)
• Highway 106 - 18.4 kilometres (Alma to Caribou)
• Highway 104, Trunk 4 - 130.5 kilometres (Port Hastings to Sydney River)
• highways 125, 105 - 21.9 kilometres (Sydney River to North Sydney)
• highways 102, 111, 118 - 122.9 kilometres (Truro to Halifax)
• Highway 101, Trunk 1 - 314.1 kilometres (Halifax to Yarmouth)
• Route 303 - 7.8 kilometres (Digby to the ferry terminal)