More Paving on the South Shore

Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell is asking that motorists use extra care and caution when driving through the newest paving job along the South Shore.

Dexter Construction of Bedford, has started repaving a 6.3 kilometre section of Route 210 in the Region of Queens Municipality. The company was awarded the $1-million contract to strip and repave the road between Greenfield and Buckfield.

"Motorists should drive through the construction site with great care, keeping in mind their own safety and the safety of the employees on the site," Mr. Russell said.

The minister also noted the benefits associated with the project.

"Local residents, tourists and traffic associated with the local lumber industry will all gain from this work," he said.

The work is expected to wrap up by mid-August.

The province has invested about $8.5 million in the South Shore's roads so far this summer.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works' 2002 capital budget for road improvements is $85.5 million, an increase of $32 million over 2001. It's the third year in a row that the capital portion of the roads budget has increased.

The department's highways division manages more than 23,000 kilometres of roads in Nova Scotia. It maintains an inventory of 3,800 bridges and operates seven provincial ferries. Four district offices are located in Bridgewater, Bedford, Truro and Sydney.