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Highway 104 - Port Hastings to Port Hawkesbury BACKGROUND - The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal) is planning for the future construction of a new, 100-series, controlled access highway between Port Hastings and Port Hawkesbury. Past planning work was conducted in the 1970s, early 1990s, and as recently as 1999 for a new Highway 104 in the Port Hastings/Port Hawkesbury area. A public consultation and a preliminary environmental screening were conducted, along with some right-of-way purchases. However, a final alignment was never approved. Planning work resumed in the spring of 2004. A public consultation was held in September 2004 to obtain information from local residents, businesses, and land owners to assist us in developing a proposal which best satisfies the needs of the communities and the traveling public. An independent traffic and benefit/cost study was commissioned in November 2004 to examine several project scenarios. PROJECT SCOPE - The proposed highway is being planned and designed as a four-lane, divided, controlled access highway with a varying width median and a design speed of up to 120 km/h (110 km/h posted speed limit). Construction will be initially limited to a two-lane, two-way highway which will provide a very good level of service for many years. Passing lanes along the two lane highway will be provided as warranted. The new highway, as proposed at the June 9, 2005 public consultation, will start at the east end of the Canso Causeway. For the most part, it will follow the path of the existing road through Port Hastings, with the existing rotary being upgraded to a safer and driver friendly modern roundabout. Land for the realignment and overpass of Highway 104 over the roundabout, as discussed at the last public consultation, will be preserved for future construction when necessary. The highway splits north of Port Hastings, with Highway 105 to the north and the new Highway 104 to the east. As the road continues east, it will cross under Pleasant Hill Road, over Crandall Road, and connect to the existing Highway 104. The section between Pleasant Hill Road and Crandall Road will provide a good view plane to the Town of Port Hawkesbury. Two new ramps will be added to the interchange at Trunk 4 to provide all-way access to Highway 104. Additional access to the east of Trunk 4 is also being examined PROJECT SCHEDULE - The interchange configurations evolved through the consultant’s work on the study, resulting in the greatest benefit to the community and the traveling public. Further work is being carried out in the Port Hawkesbury area based on input received at the most recent public consultation. The phases required prior to construction include public consultation, environmental assessment, detailed field survey, geometric design, and land acquisition. We have established a rigorous time line which would complete the planning work and have the project ready for construction by late 2008/early 2009. However, funding has not been established for construction at this time. The next step is to finalize the preferred solution for Ministerial approval, which is required for the environmental assessment to begin. CONTACT INFORMATIONNova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Highway Planning and Design Group P.O. Box 186 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2N2 (902) 424-7501 |
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