Canada and Nova Scotia Sign $61-Million Highway Agreement
Two major highway twinning projects are moving ahead with the signing today, Oct. 11, of a $61-million federal-provincial agreement.
People who travel highways 101 and 104 will benefit from newly twinned sections and three new intersections for the western portion of Highway 101.
Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell signed the agreement in Windsor on behalf of the Nova Scotia government while Scott Brison, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, represented Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities John Godfrey and federal Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre.
The agreement and the project details were first announced in April 2003. Environmental approvals have been granted, allowing tenders to be called over the summer with some ground work already underway. Since the original agreement was announced inflation has driven the cost of the projects up to $81.4 million. The original federal contribution remains the same, at $30.5 million. The province will pick up the additional costs, for a total investment of $50.9 million.
"Construction crews are already at work on the Avonport interchange and the St. Croix River Bridge on Highway 101 and I couldn't be happier," said Mr. Russell. "Clearing for the new, twinned sections of the 101 and the 104 will begin this winter."
The signing of the $61-million agreement follows work to establish engineering design and construction details, eligible costs, and a schedule for the project, which is expected to be completed in 2009.
The agreement supports the twinning of an eight-kilometre section of Highway 104 between New Glasgow and Pine Tree Road. It also funds the twinning of two sections of Highways 101 between Falmouth and Avonport, and St. Croix and Wentworth Road. The work on Highway 101 includes the construction of three new grade separations: two in Digby County at Exit 25 near Joggins, at Exit 32, near Hectanooga Road, and one in Yarmouth County at Brooklyn Road.
The federal contribution of up to $30.5 million comes from the $4-billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which supports large-scale projects of national and regional significance, in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians. Financial support under the fund is conditional on the successful completion of environmental assessments.
Nova Scotia is pursuing additional agreements with the federal government to continue expanding the national highway system which will increase safety and efficiency for users.