Trunk 7 Work Moves Forward

The province is moving ahead with its promised reconstruction projects on Trunk 7 on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore.

Today, April 2, the Department of Transportation and Public Works is calling two tenders for road reconstruction and bridge work on Trunk 7.

"We made a $17-million dollar commitment to residents of the Eastern Shore, and we're meeting that commitment," said Michael Baker, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "Trunk 7 needs some serious work and we're providing the necessary funds to do the work. This will benefit the region, socially and economically."

One tender calls for road reconstruction, repaving and bridge repairs on 13 kilometres of Trunk 7 from the Halifax County line to Bear Brook Bridge. This tender closes April 25. Completion date for the work is Sept. 30.

The other tender calls for road reconstruction and repaving on 5.5 kilometres of Trunk 7 from Upper Lakeville Road, easterly. The tender closes April 24, with a completion date of Aug. 31.

Once completed, Trunk 7 will be able to handle heavy trucks along the entire route, boosting the economic strength of the local community. The road strength will be equal to a 100-series controlled-access highway, meaning trucks weighing up to 50,000 kilograms -- the maximum weight allowed in Nova Scotia -- can travel on the pavement.

In addition, last summer the department repaved about 10 kilometres of Trunk 7, five kilometres of Highway 207, 10 kilometres of Highway 107 and strengthened the Musquodoboit Bridge.

Last July, Premier John Hamm and Ron Russell, then the minister of Transportation and Public Works, announced the five-year project to rebuild and repave about 61 kilometres of Trunk 7 and to upgrade four bridges. The work was outlined in study conducted by the department. The five-year project begins this year.