New Bridgewater Interchange Open
An ariel view looking east above the new Highway 103 12A interchange in Bridgewater with the Michelin facility in the background. (Communications Nova Scotia)
NOTE: Photos of the new Bridgewater interchange are available at: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/12/20/interchange-open-bridgewater
People in the Bridgewater area will have a safer drive and local businesses will have improved access to Highway 103 with the opening of a new interchange.
The new Exit 12A connects to the Bridgewater Business Park and to about 50 hectares (125 acres) of land for development on the north side of the highway.
“This interchange will help keep heavy truck traffic off local roads, making driving in the area safer and improving traffic flow for everyone,” said Justice Minister Becky Druhan, MLA for Lunenburg West, on behalf of Public Works Minister Fred Tilley. “This project also makes it easier for local businesses to transport their goods and expands the potential for new ventures to open their doors as the business park expands.”
The project includes a new diamond interchange at Exit 12A, the replacement of the St. Phillips Street overpass bridge and auxiliary lanes connecting Exit 12A and Exit 13.
It also involved work done for the Town of Bridgewater, including intersection realignments, water and sewer improvements, and a new connector road from St. Phillips Street to the newly opened business park lands.
The project cost $69.5 million with the Province investing $37.8 million, the federal government $20.4 million, and the Town of Bridgewater $11.3 million.
Quotes:
“This new interchange is transforming transportation in Bridgewater and is making life easier and safer for the community. We are boosting access to local businesses and paving the way for a vibrant future with seamless connectivity to Highway 103.”
— Anita Anand, federal Minister of Transport
“The opening of the Exit 12A interchange is the culmination of five-plus years of detailed planning and hard work, and it will have a profound impact on the future of our community. Not only does the new interchange provide direct highway access to and from our business park for truck traffic, as well as residents and travellers alike, but it also opens up more than 100 acres of land for future industrial and commercial development. We’re profoundly grateful to the federal and provincial governments for their roles in co-funding this game-changing project for Bridgewater, ensuring we’re positioned to continue to grow and embrace business development for years to come.”
— David Mitchell, Mayor, Town of Bridgewater
Quick Facts:
- construction on the project started in the summer of 2020
- federal funding comes from the National Trade Corridors Fund
Additional Resources:
More project information is available at: https://novascotia.ca/tran/highways/Highway103-Bridgewater-Interchange.asp
Nova Scotia’s Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan: https://novascotia.ca/tran/highways/hwyconstruction.asp
Department of Public Works on X: https://x.com/NS_PublicWorks