Twinning project moving forward
Construction to take place between Pictou and Antigonish counties
It’s been a quiet summer for first responders who cover the untwinned section of Trans-Canada Highway 104 between Barney’s River and Antigonish.
“COVID has slowed things down this year,” says Barneys River Fire Chief Joe MacDonald. “That’s the only benefit of COVID so far.”
Fewer people were travelling, he explained, and as a result there were fewer accidents.
For a department that has responded to far more than its share of fatal or near fatal accidents, it’s been a welcome reprieve.
But they know that anything can change quickly. All it takes is someone hydroplaning at the wrong time or falling asleep or over-correcting and the unforgiving highway could claim another life.
That’s why MacDonald is happy to see that construction is now underway to complete twinning.
In May the provincial government announced that Dexter Nova Alliance, led by Nova Scotia contractors Dexter Construction and Nova Construction, had won the project. They are responsible to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the 38-km twinned section of Highway 104. The project includes 28 kilometres of new two-lane twinned highway and 10 kilometres of new four-lane twinned highway. There are two new interchanges and about 24 new bridges. Dexter Nova Alliance will also upgrade the existing section of highway, which will include repaving the entire section of old road and replacing seven existing bridges.
The total cost of the project is $717.9 million and includes $364.3 million for construction and $196.4 million for ongoing operations and maintenance and a major upgrade of the existing stretch of highway during the 20-year operating period. Insurance, professional fees and financing and other costs make up the remainder of the total.
Megan Tonet, a spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastruction Renewal, said construction of 11 bridge structures on the Highway 104 Twinning Project are planned to be complete in 2021, including four large river crossings at French River, East French River, Barneys River and James River.
“Once these and a new interchange at James River are finished, traffic can be flipped to the new lanes in these areas to allow for upgrading of the existing lanes,” she said.
The entire project is expected to be completed no later than the end of 2023.
“It’s great,” said MacDonald. “It’s a dream come true.”
MacDonald is responsible for leading a grassroots effort to lobby the government to twin the highway. His mission began on Feb. 5, 2014, the day which 17-year-old Christopher Karam died in a collision involving a transport truck and a van. It was an accident he believes wouldn’t have been fatal if the highway was twinned. And in recent years, there were many like that.
The main safety advantage of the project will come from separating traffic into separate lanes and thereby reducing the chances of a deadly head-on collision.
The new highway will also be straighter adding another layer of safety.
While there’s still much to be done, MacDonald is just happy to see progress is being made.
“There’s been a quite a few people involved in this push. It’s nice to see light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a long tunnel.”
He encourages people to be safe and pay attention while the work is finished.
“Drive to conditions this winter and just watch out for the construction workers that are trying to improve things.”