More Twinning for Highway 104

Another portion of Highway 104 will become safer when the existing highway at Sutherlands River in Pictou County is twinned.

Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell has accepted a consultant's recommendation to twin 4.5 kilometres of Highway 104 from Pine Tree Road to just past Route 245, across Sutherlands River.

An earlier option considered bypassing the existing highway and creating a new alignment. An assessment by Jacques Whitford Environmental Limited studied environmental and community impacts of the twinning and bypass options.

"Both routes are economically and environmentally feasible but we agree with the community, that twinning this stretch of highway is the best decision," said Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell.

At a public working session in March of this year, residents shared their views regarding both options. These opinions were then considered along with environmental factors to reach a final recommendation.

This portion is the second phase of a project that will see Highway 104 upgraded to four lanes from just east of New Glasgow to about half a kilometre past Route 245.

Mr. Russell said that another 12 kilometres of twinned highway will help provide a safer transportation corridor for Highway 104 drivers.

Residents will have a chance to learn more about the decision to twin this section of the road at a public information session on Wednesday, Sept. 8, beginning at 7 p.m. at the East Pictou Middle School in Sutherland River.

Clearing for phase one of the project, a 7.7-kilometre section from New Glasgow to near Pine Tree, is planned for February 2005 to allow highway construction work to begin in the spring.

The project will be funded under a cost-sharing agreement with the federal government.