Highway Stewardship Needed by Federal Government

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Highway Stewardship Needed by Federal Government

The province is calling on the federal government to provide immediate stewardship of federal highway funding and policy making, said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. Mr. Russell made his comments today prior to Premier John Hamm's presentation to the Canada Transportation Act Review Panel.

Mr. Russell also sees the premier's presentation as another opportunity for the province to make its case to the federal government on the twinning of Highway 101.

"I am using every opportunity, every vehicle at my disposal, to make the federal government aware that it is absolutely necessary they immediately provide their share of the funding required to twin Highway 101," Mr. Russell said.

Earlier this year, the minister presented Ottawa with a five- year, $270-million cost-shared investment plan for Nova Scotia's highway system. The province also asked the federal government to allow Nova Scotia to access highway infrastructure funds this year instead of waiting until 2002 as set out by Ottawa.

Premier John Hamm told the review panel that Canada is the only G-7 industrialized country in the world without a national highways funding program. In making his case for a strong transportation system, the premier also told the review panel that Highway 101 in the Annapolis Valley is reaching peak capacity and safety is a serious problem.

The public is demanding the twinning of this route but a construction project requires federal funding to be completed.

"Other countries are reaping the commercial benefits of an improved highway program supported by national governments but not in Canada," Premier Hamm said. "Our national government provides funding in fits and starts and fails to make long overdue investments in Canada's National Highways System."

The United States government provided $218 billion (US) to transportation investments over a six-year period beginning in 1998 while Canada's federal government will allocate $600 million (Can), with no expenditures until 2002-03.

Canada's federal government also collects about $4 billion a year in revenue from road fuel taxes but reinvests less than four per cent of what it collects, said Premier Hamm.

Progress on 101 Being Made:

Meanwhile, as the provincial government waits on a decision from Ottawa, progress is being made on the action plan instituted from observation made in the Highway 101 Operational and Safety Review.

"We are making progress as we address the three E's," said Mr. Russell. He was referring to enforcement, engineering and education, the three main components in the development of a safer Highway 101.

"Even if we started the twinning tomorrow, it would take a number of years to complete," he said. "In the meantime, it is of paramount importance that we make the existing road as safe as possible."

Mr. Russell said the safety of people travelling this highway heads his agenda and the committee dealing with the project works daily on improvements and reports weekly to him on their progress.

To date, the following changes have been made:

• Twinning: Mount Uniacke structure lengthening under construction; clearing of land adjacent to highway to begin in winter of 2000-01; subgrade construction tendering anticipated in summer of 2001.
• All downhill passing lane markings have been eliminated.
• Report and recommendation on Ben Jackson Road Intersection completed and under review.
• Pavement and pothole repairs ongoing as needed.
• Effectiveness of a special RCMP speed patrol unit, deployed initially for two-week period, being reviewed.
• Action plans have been developed to strategically deploy patrol officers.
• New and more effective signs for the Central District have been purchased and are being installed.
• The centre-line repainting has been completed.
• Tenders to widen shoulder and erect new railing in the Western District closed on Nov. 2.
• Tender to erect a bridge approach guardrail in the Western District closed Nov. 2.
• Planning for the number and location of passing lanes between Coldbrook and Bridgetown will begin Nov. 20.
• Analysis of accident records to determine location and frequency of animal-related collisions underway.
• RCMP and Transportation Department to develop an Early Morning Tips program on Annapolis Valley and metro radio stations, which would provide information on road conditions.

"We are doing everything possible, including seriously considering all suggestions from the general public, to achieve our aim," Mr. Russell said. "I appreciate the hard work of staff and I am very grateful to the RCMP, who are going out of their way to work with us in making Highway 101 safe and restoring the travelling public's confidence in the route."