Highways Need Work, Survey Says

How satisfied are motorists using Nova Scotia's highways? Not very, according to preliminary results of the 2001 customer satisfaction survey released today by Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell.

Overall customer satisfaction with the provincial highway system stands at 50 per cent. A survey done in 2000 indicated that about 54 per cent of Nova Scotians were satisfied with the condition of our roadways.

"It's another clear indication that we need more capital funds for highway and bridge improvements," said Mr. Russell. "We'll continue to press Ottawa to reinvest a larger share of the gas tax revenues it collects in this province. But we can't stop there. We're going to have to look at all options to pay for the work that Nova Scotians know needs to be done."

When asked what they would rank as top priorities, most people said the province should focus on repairing and resurfacing existing highways, and in some cases, twinning highways. Seventy- seven per cent of those surveyed rated filling cracks and potholes as being a very important service.

"Since taking office, we've clearly shown our commitment to highway improvements," said Mr. Russell. "Now that we've turned the corner and reversed the trend of declining capital funding, we need to keep the momentum. Our roads are too important: they support the free flow of goods and services, they're important to our reputation as a tourist haven and they're key to major investment decisions by business and industry."

Mr. Russell said he was pleased to see that 72 per cent of those surveyed say they feel very safe or somewhat safe when driving on provincial highways. Those who felt unsafe cited poor road conditions as a major reason.

In total, respondents were asked to rate 18 different aspects of the highways:

• amount of four-lane highways;
• filling of cracks and potholes;
• resurfacing of highways;
• ice and snow removal;
• storm cleanup;
• highway design;
• number of passing lanes;
• length of passing lanes;
• all pavement markings;
• roadside brush and tree clearing;
• helpfulness of highway signs;
• maintenance of highway signs;
• amount of non-commercial signs;
• width of highway shoulders;
• surface condition of highway shoulders;
• grading and dust control of gravel;
• ditches and culverts; and
• bridges.

A summary of the 2001 customer satisfaction survey will be posted in the near future on the Department of Transportation and Public Works Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/tran .