Budget Bulletin: Infrastructure and Roads

BIGGER BUDGET MEANS BETTER HIGHWAYS
Improving and sustaining transportation infrastructure is a key priority for ensuring Nova Scotia's economic and social well- being. With good roads, products can quickly get to market, children will arrive safely at school, and tourists will return. The Province of Nova Scotia will invest about $307.5 million in 2005-06 to improve Nova Scotia's highways, roads and bridges for the benefit of all motorists -- a $44-million increase over last year.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works' overall capital budget for 2005-06 is about $161 million. This includes $143 million for highways and another $16 million for capital construction on buildings.

IMPROVING HIGHWAYS, ROADS AND BRIDGES This is the sixth consecutive year that government has increased capital spending on highways and bridges. An extra $30 million will be spent upgrading secondary highways throughout the province.

The operating budget for the full transportation network is increasing to $164.5 million. An extra $14 million will be spent on highway maintenance, including pavement patching, brush cutting and new signs. A $2.5-million increase in the $15-million Road Improvement Money program is also included. The Steel Truss Bridge program is increasing by $5 million to $13 million. The total budget for bridge replacements and improvements is $31 million.

ENHANCING HIGHWAY SAFETY
Construction on major highway twinning projects will continue this year. About $24 million will be invested in 100-series highways throughout the province. Work will begin this construction season on twinning Highway 101 from St. Croix to Avonport. The twinning of Highway 103 from Otter Lake to Tantallon is progressing and scheduled to open next year. Work will continue on Highway 103 at Barrington in Shelburne County. A milestone will be reached later this year when the Coxheath interchange on Highway 125 is opened.

NOTE: For further 2005-06 budget information, see the Department of Finance website at www.gov.ns.ca/finance