The province says the Hammonds Plains to Highway 101 connector project is officially underway.
On Monday, the government announced it is now issuing a request for proposals for engineering services to prepare for an environmental assessment. It will identify measures to avoid, reduce or mitigate effects on wetlands, wildlife, watercourses and nearby communities.
The province said the new five-kilometre strategic link will connect Hammonds Plains Road near Sandy Lake with exit 2 on Highway 101.
“This is the first step in this project which, combined with other projects planned for the area, will relieve congestion and improve safety,” said Fred Tilley, Minister of Public Works.
The government said qualified firms will have until April 10 to submit their proposals.
Project part of immediate solution to congestion
Last year, Nova Scotia released a first-of-its-kind plan in Atlantic Canada that detailed the goals the Houston government and the municipalities have for transportation.
It is being called the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), and it focuses on Halifax Regional Municipality, with expansions in East Hants, West Hants, Chester and portions of Lunenburg, Kings and Colchester. The report notes that 63 per cent of Nova Scotians live in HRM and it notes that congestion through the area will only increase due to population growth.
Most of the 112-page document is about the studies the province will be conducting to better understand the best way for transportation to be implemented.
A lot of it will take place over the next several decades, meaning there won’t be a lot of congestion relief in the immediate years.
However, the government did detail that over the next 18 to 24 months, there are some administrative tasks the province will start to bring some solutions in the short term.
One of the first ideas presented to help ease congestion is improvements to the Highway 101 connector.
