TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--SPEED ZONE CHANGES FOR HIGHWAY 104 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming changes to the speed limits on the existing Highway 104 between Masstown and Thomson Station were announced today at the regular meeting of the Highway 104 Western Alignment's Community Liaison Committee. These changes will become effective when the new highway opens in December, 1997. Officials from the Department of Transportation and Public Works outlined where the speeds would change and for what distance. In general, speeds will be reduced by 10 km/h from the current limits, with the stretch between Mahoney's Corner and Wentworth remaining at its existing limit of 80 km/h. While the department acknowledges the speed limits are changing as part of a contractual obligation with the company building and operating the new highway, provincial officials point to safety as the most important factor for both highways. "There is an urgency to build a new highway through this area for safety reasons," said Bob Bieren, project manager for the Highway 104 Western Alignment. "No one denies that. Fifty people have died on this stretch in the past decade." The 30 km/h speed difference between the two highways was a concession that made sense, Bieren said. "It keeps fast-moving through-traffic, such as large trucks, off a winding, two-lane local road, and puts them on a highway designed specifically for high speeds. Because of this, there will be two safe routes through the area come December." The incompatible mix of through-traffic, including large trucks, and slower moving local traffic is blamed for many of the accidents on the area's two-lane Highway 104. Because of the public-private partnership negotiated with Atlantic Highways Corporation, a four-lane, wide-median, 45 kilometre highway is being constructed in 20 months. With the lowered speed limits, the new weighted average on the existing Highway 104 is 80 km/h, a reduction of 8 km/h from the current weighted average. A "weighted" average includes the distance for each speed limit as a factor in the calculation. For example, a 50 km stretch with a speed limit of 100 km/h for 40 kilometres and 80 km/h for the remaining 10 kilometres would have a weighted average speed limit of 96 km/h as opposed to an average speed limit of 90 km/h. In other words the 100 km/h limit is given more "weight" in the calculation because it applies for a longer distance. A driver going the speed limit will take around 40 minutes to travel the 54 kilometre stretch. That's about four minutes longer than it takes driving the current speed limit. Drivers will be able to use the new highway and cover the 45 kilometre between Thomson Station and Masstown in about 24 minutes driving 110 km/h. That's 16 minutes quicker than the old route. -30- NOTE TO EDITORS: A map and chart of speed zones are available by calling 1-800-670-4357 or 902-424-4492. Contact: Chris Welner 902-424-8687 or 902-499-0032 (cell) Susan MacLeod 902-424-2248 trp Mar. 27, 1997 - 4 p.m.