Report on Improvements to Cape Breton Highway

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Report on Improvements to Cape Breton Highway

An engineering report outlining recommendations for improvements for the Sydney-Glace Bay Highway is now available to the public.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works and Cape Breton Regional Municipality released the Trunk 4 final report today, Jan. 13.

"We've been working with Cape Breton Regional Municipality to determine both short- and long-term improvements to this well- travelled highway," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works.

In January 2004, CBCL Limited was hired to identify upgrades to improve the safety and operation of the road. The report summarizes CBCL's approach, findings, and recommendations for improving the highway.

A public consultation session was held in February 2004 to gather information and hear concerns about the road. CBCL's research included a safety audit, studying the road's characteristics and operation, and forecasting future growth. CBCL staff presented their initial recommendations at a public information session in October.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works and Cape Breton Regional Municipality will review the report over the next several months. Decisions about how and when to proceed with the project recommendations will be made in the next budget year, taking the priorities of the department and the municipality into consideration.

The complete report is available on the websites at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/highwayops/trunk4.asp and www.cbrm.ns.ca . The report is also available at the following branches of the Cape Breton Regional Library: Glace Bay Branch Library; Tompkins Memorial Library (Reserve Mines); and James McConnell Memorial Library (Sydney). A copy is also available at the University College of Cape Breton library.