The province will not go ahead with using tolls to twin highways in the Nova Scotia.
Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan says Nova Scotians were firm in how they felt about tolls.
“The overwhelming response that tolls shouldn’t be an option for public policy in Nova Scotia was very clear.”
The decision comes after several weeks of public consultation were held across the province earlier this year.
Province Investing $390 Million to Twin and Improve Safety https://t.co/Kdaj64AlBL
— Nova Scotia Gov. (@nsgov) April 26, 2017
The results of that process showed Nova Scotians did not overwhelming support the use of tolls to twin highways sooner.
MacLellan announced funding of four twinning projects on Highways 101, 103, 104 and 105.
Highway 103 will be twinned between exits 5 and 6 for a total of 22 kilometres stretching from Tantallon to Hubbards.
MacLellan says they determined which highways would be twinned according to need.
“The first 22 kilometres is key from a volume perspective coming out of Metro. And then we’ll look at what happens after that.”
Twinning the four sections comes with an estimated $390 million dollar price tag, $140 million of which is dedicated to the 103.
MacLellan says the province will look to pay just over half and use federal infrastructure money to make up the difference.
