Highway 125 Twinning to Improve Safety, Boost Economic Growth
TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Highway 125 Twinning to Improve Safety, Boost Economic Growth
Highway 125 in Sydney, which carries nearly 14,000 vehicles a day, will be twinned between Balls Creek and Sydney River, a distance of 5.2 kilometres. The project will run over the next four years.
The $12-million project, with $3.6 million in federal funding under the Strategic Highways Infrastructure Program, was announced in Sydney River today, Oct. 28. Cecil Clarke, Minister of Economic Development, on behalf of Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, and Robert Thibault, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, made the announcement.
"It's great news for the community," said Mr.Clarke. "This investment will mean a safer, more efficient Highway 125 that will make it easier for people to get to and from work and school and to make other connections to communities throughout Cape Breton. And we all know the importance of these improvements to businesses that rely on tourism for their livelihood."
Mr. Clark added that good roads are essential to the well-being of all Nova Scotians and that the province looks forward to continued co-operation with the federal government on future highway projects.
Clearing will begin this winter. Widening the Sydney River bridge and construction of a new interchange at Coxheath Road will begin next year.
"Twinning this portion of Highway 125 is an important step in helping Nova Scotia improve its roads," said Mr. Thibault. "It will benefit the people of Nova Scotia, since residents and goods will be able to travel more efficiently within the province."
Highway 125 is part of the National Highway System in Nova Scotia, which means it qualifies for cost-shared funding under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program announced last July. Most of the $34.6-million program was dedicated to much-needed improvements to Highway 101. Twinning between Mount Uniacke and Ellershouse is under construction and is scheduled to open by the fall of 2003.
The province's capital budget for roads, bridges and ferries this year is $85.5 million, an increase of $32 million over last year.
The Department of Transportation and Public Works' highways division manages more than 23,000 kilometres of roads in Nova Scotia, maintains an inventory of 3,800 bridges and operates seven provincial ferries. Its four district offices are located in Bridgewater, Bedford, Truro and Sydney.