The Government of Nova Scotia announced that another section of the twinned Highway 103 has been completed, with the new 22-kilometre, four-lane divided highway between Exit 5 at Upper Tantallon and Exit 6 at Hubbards open to traffic in the coming days.
“As a frequent driver of Highway 103, I know just how much of a difference the divided highway has made for those who travel it,” said Public Works Minister Kim Masland. “I am grateful for the Department staff and private contractors who have worked so hard to get the job done and make people’s lives better.”
The project includes:
- a new interchange and connector road in Ingramport (Exit 5A) – opened in January 2017;
- twinned highway from Exit 5 to Exit 5A – opened in December 2020; and
- twinned highway from Exit 5A to Exit 6 – opening in July 2024.
“It’s wonderful that the twinning of Highway 103 between Upper Tantallon and Hubbards is now complete. The federal government is a proud contributor to this project – in doing so, we’re making one of Nova Scotia’s major arterial highways safer and more efficient for the thousands of people who use it daily,” said Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Central Nova.
Final costs are still being calculated, but the project is estimated to cost $117 million.
Work has started on the next section of Highway 103 to be twinned, from Exit 6 at Hubbards to Exit 7 at East River.
“Dexter Construction is proud to be part of this major twinning work on Highway 103. These jobs have put over 100 of our employees, local sub-contractors and suppliers to work in our communities, while improving the safety and efficiency of our highways. We thank the provincial and federal governments for supporting highway twinning in Nova Scotia,” said Ken MacLean, vice president, Dexter Construction Co. Ltd.
The project was announced by the provincial and federal governments in 2017 and construction began in 2018. The federal government will contribute 50 per cent of the cost up to $65 million. Construction workers have moved nearly 2.5 million cubic metres of earth and put down more than 170,000 tonnes of asphalt and built 11 new bridges.
“Twinned highways improve safety on our roads and save lives by keeping inbound and outbound traffic further apart. The newly twinned Highway 103 helps reduce congestion and lets us respond to incidents faster,” said Clary Coolen, Fire Chief, Hubbards District Fire Department.
Featured image: Newly twinned Highway 103 between Upper Tantallon and Hubbards (Communications Nova Scotia)
