Nova Scotia Announced it's five year plan for major highway construction projects. Photo: NS Government.

Public Works Minister Kim Masland laid out how Nova Scotia plans to develop its highways over the next five during a press conference in Halifax on Friday afternoon.

This year alone the province plans to spend $450 million on roadwork and major projects already underway. The Province is also committing $583 million for six new major construction projects, to be constructed between 2025

The new projects announced included;

• Highway 103, Argyle Interchange (Exit 32 and 32A)
• Highway 103, twinning between Exit 6 (Hubbards) and Exit 7 (East River)
• Highway 103, twinning between Exit 7 (East River) and Exit 8 (Chester)
• Highway 104, twinning between Taylors Road and Paqtnkek (Antigonish County)
• Highway 107, twinning from Burnside to west of Loon Lake (Halifax Regional Municipality)
• Tancook Ferry infrastructure development (Lunenburg County)

Minister Masland was asked about the concentration of projects on the 103 and the reason for it, which she explained saying that the population is growing in that area quickly and the 103 has been problematic for accidents for years.

The province is obliged to provide annual updates that include a five-year outlook of the province’s plans to improve its major transport infrastructure.

“This is one of the largest highway infrastructure investments to date,” said Minister Masland. “This investment will not only make our highways and bridges safer, it will also enable the road-building industry time to plan and prepare for these major investments.”

Eight major construction projects will continue in 2023-24 with a focus on twinning portions of Highways 101, 103, 104 and Highway 107’s four-lane Sackville-Bedford-Burnside Connector.

The Province has doubled its investment in the Gravel Road Capital program from $20 million to $40 million, as well as the Bridge Program from $30 million to $60 million. This investment also includes access improvements for 100-series highways that are not being twinned. That work involves improving intersections and adding passing lanes, turning lanes, and roundabouts.

Details on all the highway projects being undertaken over the next five years can be found in the full report.