Province awards Dexter Nova Alliance $717.9M project

SUTHERLANDS RIVER — If all goes according to plan, by the end of 2023 people will be able to drive from Amherst to Antigonish on a twinned highway.

Construction is scheduled to start in June and will be completed no later than the end of 2023 to twin the portion of Highway 104 between Sutherlands River, Pictou County and Antigonish.

On Thursday, the provincial government announced that Dexter Nova Alliance, led by Nova Scotia contractors Dexter Construction and Nova Construction, outbid two other companies shortlisted for the project. They will be responsible to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the 38-km twinned section of Highway 104.

“I can't wait to drive on it,” says Barneys River fire chief Joe Macdonald, who has been a long-time advocate for the project.

Since he started keeping track in 2009, there have been 21 fatalities on the currently un-twinned portion of highway and more than 450 accidents. Macdonald believes many of those collisions would have been prevented or less serious if the highway was divided, and he's happy to hear it is going ahead.

“It is a dream come true to see this project now becoming a reality,” he said. “This will mean a lot to have a safer road from Sutherlands River to Antigonish.

I believe many lives will be saved."

The Mcneil government says it chose to use a P3 model to build the highway because it will speed up the process.

"Nova Scotians were clear that they want safe roads now,” said Lloyd Hines, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. “This will mean a safer, affordable and more efficient highway being opened years earlier than a conventional highway project."

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.

The federal government is contributing $90 million to the project under the National Trade Corridors Fund.

Dexter Nova Alliance will be paid half of the construction cost on completion and the remaining amount as monthly "availability" payments based on the availability of the highway at the specified performance level over the 20-year period.

Ownership of the highway will remain with the province at all times.

It is a dream come true to see this project now becoming a reality.

Joe Macdonald Barneys River fire chief