Highway 101 Twinning Enters Next Phase

Twinning of the next section of Highway 101 is set to begin this summer. The province called a tender today, June 15, to build a new bridge at the St. Croix River, in Hants County, and more work will be announced soon.

"A number of important projects can start this year, now that the federal government has given us the green light to call tenders to twin Highway 101," said Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell. "Building a better and safer Highway 101 is a top priority of our government."

The Department of Transportation and Public Works expects to receive written environmental approval within the next few weeks to begin the twinning project between St. Croix and Three Mile Plains, and from two kilometres west of Exit 7 in Falmouth to Avonport.

A tender call to build new lanes at the Avonport interchange is expected in the next few weeks, while grubbing -- or winter clearing -- for new twinned lanes should start in January 2006.

The province submitted environmental screening documents for this phase of construction to Transport Canada for approval in August 2004. Federal comments were returned in February 2005, too late to begin work during the winter months.

The projects are being funded through a cost-shared agreement by the provincial and federal governments. The agreement has not yet been signed, but all eligible project costs incurred since April 9, 2003 will be shared.

"We fully expect the federal government will continue to be a funding partner on this project, as it is our shared objective to improve Highway 101," Mr. Russell said.

Twenty-one kilometres of twinned pavement between Mount Uniacke and Ellershouse on Highway 101 were opened in the fall of 2003.