Safety Improvements Scheduled for Avonport Interchange, Highway 101

Nova Scotia's first modern traffic roundabout and new on- and off-ramps will soon result in a safer intersection at Exit 9 near Avonport on Highway 101.

The province issued a call for tenders today, July 27, for the construction of the new roundabout and for other safety improvements at the exit. This project will be jointly funded by Canada and Nova Scotia under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

The improvements involve the construction of new westbound on- and off-ramps at Exit 9. The ramps will replace the existing intersection which gives traffic only a short distance to get up to highway speed when entering Highway 101 from Trunk 1.

The new ramps will connect to a new roundabout which will also be handling traffic from Trunk 1 and Oak Island Road.

Roundabouts differ from rotaries because the traffic that is in the roundabout always has the right of way.

Safety of the eastbound off-ramp of Highway 101 will also be improved by extending the length of the slow-down lane that connects with Gaspereau River Road.

The tender will close on Friday, Aug. 12 and the project is scheduled for completion in July 2006. This will allow settlement of the base for the new ramps over the winter.

The project is part of the province's ongoing effort to improve safety on Highway 101.