FAQ

About the Project

What is the Highway 103 Twinning Project?

The project is the twinning of Highway 103 from Upper Tantallon to Hubbards. It will extend the twinning that was done in 2006 from Halifax to Upper Tantallon.
As part of the project, a new interchange(exit) will be required and a connector road is being considered to connect the interchange(exit) to St. Margarets Bay Road.

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Why is this project being built?

We are committed to improving and upgrading Highway 103. Safety on the Highway is a top priority.
As part of this twinning project, a new interchange(exit) and connector road between Exits 5 and 6 is being considered for construction, to improve safety and access for emergency vehicles.
We are currently at the environmental assessment stage of the project.

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Why are an interchange (exit) and a connector road being considered?

An interchange(exit) is a requirement for this project. The new twinned portion of the highway will be controlled access, which means that for safety reasons there will not be any driveways allowed off of Highway 103. An interchange(exit) and service road will be required to provide access to the highway for landowners who will no longer have direct access from their properties.
The connector road is being considered to provide better access for emergency vehicles. Modern 100-series highways are built with interchanges(exits) approximately every 8 kilometres. Currently, the stretch between the interchanges(exits) at Upper Tantallon and Hubbards is 21 kilometres long.
In our discussions with emergency responders, they have been very supportive of a new interchange(exit) and connector road between Upper Tantallon and Hubbards.

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When will construction begin?

It is our intention to be ready to tender the project in late 2011 or 2012.

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The Interchange(Exit)

What is the final route/alignment?

We are exploring interchange(exit) and connector options and no decisions have been made.

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How do you determine the location of the interchange(exit)?

There are many factors that go into determining the exact location of the interchange(exit), including environmental issues and suitable land features. Generally, however, the intention is to have the interchange(exit) halfway between the existing exits at Upper Tantallon and Hubbards.

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The Connector Road

Why do you want to build a connector road to St. Margarets Bay Road?

The connector road is being considered to provide better access for emergency vehicles.
The connector road would also assist property owners accessing their land north of Highway 103.
Other benefits to the connector road include:

Better access to Highway 103 for the communities of Boutilier's Point, Black Point, Ingramport and The Puddle
Reduced traffic on St. Margaret's Bay Road
Access to fresh water supply for Fire Services
Facilitation of evacuation of coastal communities in the case of a catastrophic event
Better movement of traffic in the event of an incident on either Highway 103 or Trunk 3

Modern 100-series highways are built with interchanges(exits) approximately every 8 kilometres. Currently, the stretch between the interchanges(exits) at Upper Tantallon and Hubbards is 21 kilometres long.

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Are you going to "pave over homes"?

We don't pave over homes. We never have and we never will. There are times when we do buy properties, and when we do we negotiate with the property owner to purchase the land. If there is a building on the property, and it is possible to do so, we will even move it to another location for the property owner if that is what the property owner wishes.
In rare cases, we will expropriate property that is required for a project, but that is only done as a last resort, after attempts to negotiate a purchase fail. If a property is required we work with owners to negotiate a settlement, which may include moving a structure and providing land for relocation if appropriate. In these uncommon instances, the property owner is assured, by legislation, fair market value for the property. However, we always prefer to come to a mutually satisfactory purchase agreement.

There has been media coverage that says that the connector road would mean the destruction of homes. Is that true?

There are 6 options for a connector road currently being considered. Five of those options would not involve the removal of any buildings. One option, if it was chosen, would require the removal of one building.

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What does the department do if privately owned land or a residence is affected by a road project?

We are currently at the preliminary stage of route evaluation. When assessing routes, we take many factors into account, including:

Presence of lakes and rivers
Presence of wetlands
Presence of houses and/or impact on houses
Suitable land features
Rare species, nesting areas
Archeological findings
Water crossings
Length of route

Decisions on the best route are not made until all of the information is gathered and assessed for all routes. At that time, all of the routes are compared to each other to determine the best option. This is a requirement of the Environmental Assessment process, and is the standard procedure for all of our highway projects.

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I have seen a drawing that shows a large scarred area that would be the intersection at St. Margaret's Bay road. Is that what our intersection would look like?

Nova Scotia has many intersections on many highways and none of them look like that. This intersection would look like existing intersections you see in the community.

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Did the department consider the possibility of negative environmental impacts in the area due to the construction of the new alignment?

Thorough environmental assessments (EAs), studying the impacts of a particular project on the environment, are required for these types of construction projects.
The results of the EA will help define the best route for the project, as well as help determine what measures need to be taken to eliminate, minimize, or compensate for any predicted environmental impacts.

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Community Consultation

Does the community have an opportunity to provide input to the highway route choice?

Community consultation is an important part of the process in project planning, and the input we receive is incorporated in our decision-making.
In June of 2010, a public meeting was held in the community, at the Black Point Fire Hall. At the meeting, attended by more than 200 people, project staff presented the information gathered to date, answered questions, and listened to issues, concerns and suggestions.
TIR will hold a public consultation / Open House, in March of 2011, and attendees will be able to review the information that has been gathered for the project. As well, Project Staff will be present to answer questions at information stations and attendees will be encouraged to submit their ideas to the project team at the meeting.
Additionally, TIR's website includes all of the information available, and a link for people to submit their ideas, concerns and questions directly to project staff.

In addition to the public meetings and the website, project staff members have been meeting with stakeholders in the community to gather input on several topics, including environment, recreation and emergency response.

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Is the input from the community really taken into account into decision-making on the project?

Yes, community input is valuable to our decision-making process. We understand that the people in the community have a very good knowledge of the area, and can provide valuable input.
The department has changed projects based on public feedback. There are recent, excellent examples of how community input has resulted in modifications to highway routes, the appearance and design of bridges, and other aspects of highway construction. Two recent examples include the Port Mouton Highway Project and the Twinning of Highway 104 at Antigonish.
On this project, one of the suggestions at the June 2010 public meeting was that a socio-economic impact study be conducted, due to concerns about negative impacts on business in the area. As a result, a socio-economic impact study has been commissioned.

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Are the needs of ATVs being considered as part of the twinning project?

Yes. The issue of how ATV users and the users of Highway 103 can safely co-exist is a major consideration as we plan the twinning.
We will have more information on that aspect of the project at the upcoming public meeting.
Consultation has been on-going with dozens of meetings with landowners and stakeholder groups.

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