Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
The Nova Scotia government has announced an ambitious $500 million investment in road and infrastructure projects for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Minister of Public Works Fred Tilley unveiled the province’s Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan on January 21, outlining key upgrades to highways, bridges, and roads across the province.
“This work will ensure Nova Scotians can travel safely and efficiently throughout their communities and across the province,” said Minister Tilley. “These projects will not only improve local mobility but also strengthen our connections to the world by supporting the movement of goods.”
The 2025-26 plan includes several high-profile initiatives, including the start of two major projects: the Port Hastings intersection in Inverness County and the addition of passing lanes between exits 18 and 19 (Lake Echo/Mineville and Porters Lake) on Highway 107 in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). These projects are designed to improve safety and traffic flow on key routes.
Ongoing projects from previous years will also continue, with work progressing on:
- Seal Island Bridge rehabilitation in Victoria County
- Highway 103 Argyle interchange in Yarmouth County
- Highway 103 twinning from Hubbards to East River in Lunenburg County
- Highway 104 twinning from Taylors Road to Paqtnkek in Antigonish County
- Highway 107 twinning from Burnside to Lake Loon in HRM
- Highway 102 Aerotech Connector in HRM
- Infrastructure upgrades for the Tancook Ferry in Lunenburg County
In addition to these major projects, the plan includes improvements to access on non-twinning 100-series highways, with upgrades to intersections, the addition of passing lanes, turning lanes, and the installation of roundabouts.
The Nova Scotia Road Builders Association (NSRBA) has expressed strong support for the Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan.
“It helps everyone understand which projects are expected to move forward and the approximate timelines for their completion,” said Grant Feltmate, executive director of the NSRBA.
The highway improvement plan is expected to boost safety, support local economies, and enhance transportation efficiency across the province.
Infrastructure upgrades for the Tancook Ferry in Lunenburg County will also proceed, along with improvements for access on 100-series highways not being twinned, such as upgrades to intersections, addition of passing lanes, turning lanes, and roundabouts.
“The Nova Scotia Road Builders Association strongly supports the Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan. It provides valuable insight into the government’s priorities and expected project timelines,” said Grant Feltmate, executive director of the association.
The plan outlines the government’s strategy for repairing and maintaining the province’s 23,000 kilometres of roads and highways and 4,100 bridges.
Last year, several major projects were completed, including the twinning of Highway 103 from Upper Tantallon to Hubbards, the Bridgewater interchange, and the Sackville-Bedford-Burnside Connector.
