Reducing congestion, improving safety
New Highway 101 interchange in Cambridge will provide economic development opportunities for the region moment matters.”
Less truck traffic will be on Highway 1 in the Cambridge area once a new interchange is built on Highway 101.
The provincial and federal governments announced $47 million for the long-discussed Exit 14A interchange project on April 17 at the Waterville and District Fire Department. The interchange and connector roads are expected to take three years to complete with construction starting this year.
Nova Scotia Public Works Minister Kim Masland said the project will improve safety and travel times, lower greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and economic development opportunities.
“It takes a tremendous amount of congestion off the No. 1,” she said.
Masland noted more than 100 trucks travel Highway 1 each day to get to Michelin’s Waterville plant. The interchange project will enable trucks to get off Highway 101 and to the plant quicker than getting off in Berwick or Coldbrook.
“This project is not about Michelin, but part of the interchange plays into Michelin’s competitiveness,” added KingsHants MP Kody Blois. “Every
ECONOMIC IMPACT
And while road safety and reducing truck traffic through residential communities and school zones is part of the project, it is also seen as a job creator and a boost for economic development opportunities. Annapolis Valley First Nations owns land to the east of the interchange while the Municipality of Kings County owns land to the west.
“This interchange will open up access to hundreds of acres of land for development opportunities,” Masland said. “That means new local businesses, more jobs right here.”
Annapolis Valley First Nation Chief Gerald Toney said the Indigenous community is very optimistic about the potential for economic development opportunities near the interchange. It has worked out well for the other First Nations communities with projects like Glooscap Landing in Lockhartville and the Millbrook Power Centre in Colchester County.
“We have already started planning our short-, mediumand long-term goals,” Toney said. “Needless to say, we are excited for the future of (where) today’s announcement can lead us.”
Nastasya Kennedy, a councillor with the First Nation, said
they have plans to open a truck stop and have retail space available. She said discussions pre-dated her time on council, which goes back 12 years.
She said the interchange announcement provides excitement and hope.
“It will provide opportunity for our community to open their own businesses also job opportunity, not just for us, but the outside community as well,” she said.
The Municipality of Kings is planning to develop a business park associated with the project.
“This is important to both current needs and future plans for the area while increasing safety and easing congestion on Highway 1,” Mayor Peter Muttart said.
ACCESS
Another benefit of the project will see an access road built from the Annapolis Valley First Nation to the interchange.
“Safety is always a top concern for our people,” Toney said.
“Currently there is only one entrance/exit into our community. In the event of an act of mother nature and emergency, the one exit poses great concern for our community members. We are hopeful this new interchange will help address those concerns.”
Kennedy remembers a few times over the years when they were unable to get in or out of the community. One was during a vehicle fire at the end of
Ratchford Road while another occurred when the Cornwallis River flooded over Cambridge Road several years ago. When those things happened, residents were left waiting and praying an emergency didn’t occur.
DESIGN
The Cambridge Interchange will be built between Coldbrook and Berwick.
Masland said there are some provincial and federal environmental assessments underway and some negotiations with private
landowners.
“But we’re ready to roll,” she said. “We want to get those shovels in the ground this construction season.”
The interchange will be designed to accommodate future twinning of Highway 101.
The project will see connector roads built south to Highway 1 and north to Brooklyn Street. The south connector will run about two kilometres to Highway 1 where a new roundabout will be constructed. Waterville Mountain Road will be realigned to the roundabout.
Masland said the department works closely with the Construction Association of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association and doesn’t believe labour shortage will impact the stated timelines.
“There is sufficient capacity, they believe, within their industry that they will be able to complete these projects,” she said.