Article contentTilley saidhe’sbeen hearing from residents in thearea about the deteriorating condition of theCabot Trail, andputting repairs to that roadway as one of Public Works’ priorities.Article content“We actually were able to move that up a little bit in the queue, so that’ll start this year andcarryinto next year,” he said.“It’sa significant amount of work, because not only is it resurfacing but also widening to include the Blue Route (for cyclists), and sothere’sa lot of ditching that would berequiredthere (plus)culverts along the way. So,you’llsee work there this summer.”Article contentTilley also discusses improvements coming to the trail’s eastern side (around the Cape Smokey area) and northern side (Cape North area), outside the boundaries of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, as within those boundaries fall under Parks Canada’s responsibility.Article content“There are six areas around the Cabot Trail that will be addressed over the next few years, and as usual, we will take a worst-first approach,” Tilley said. “I know down the north side of it is an issue … and also there’ll be some maintenance work on the Cape Smokey (side) as well. Those will be addressed as we go forward.”Article contentArticle content Resurfacing plans are in the works for the current Port Hastings rotary roadway, Public Works Minister Fred Tilley says. Photo by IAN NATHANSON/CAPE BRETON POST FILEArticle contentPORT HASTINGS ROTARYArticle contentIt has been at least five years since the province has been working on a suitable design of what would ultimately become a Port Hastings roundabout.Article contentWhen asked about where that currently stands, Tilley responded, “There was a design that was proposed for that area, and it just didn’t fly with the rest of the area — and it was very expensive.Article content“We’ve gone back to the drawing board there, and the team is working on what that can look like for the most efficient movement of people and goods.”Article contentIn the meantime, Tilley said he does want to see work done on the current roadways that surround the rotary, as much of them — along with a portion of Trans-Canada Highway 104 on the Cape Breton side — contain ruts and potholes aplenty.Article content“I’m a minister that travels that highway (through the Port Hastings rotary) constantly, and believe me, I feel every bump through there,” Tilley said. “The first stage is to get that all resurfaced, so that our tourists and other motorists can travel through there safely.Article contentArticle content“Plus, we’re adding an extra lane as you head west down toward the (Canso) causeway to help alleviate some of the traffic there.”Article content Fred Tilley, Nova Scotia Public Works minister: “I’m a minister that travels that highway (through the Port Hastings rotary) constantly, and believe me, I feel every bump through there.” Photo by CHRIS CONNORS/CAPE BRETON POST FILEArticle contentSEAL ISLAND BRIDGEArticle contentThis past spring, Trans-Canada Highway 105 was briefly reduced to one lane over the Seal Island Bridge for several weeks for the replacement of bridge joints.Article contentWork is continuously being done to maintain the 65-year-old iconic structure that clears the Great Bras d’Or Channel — as it now stands.Article content“This year’s project involved the expansion joints (that) were all replaced,” Tilley said. “And next year, there will be more steel repairs and coatings added to the steel above the piers. Then, from 2028 to 2030, there will be some sway damper improvements.Article content“So over the next couple of years, $40 million is being put into that bridge to give it an extended life of an extra 15 years, which gives us time to plan and look for a replacement.”Article contentIn December 2023, during a news conference in North Sydney, two Public Works officials, along with two members of Halifax-based engineering firm COWI, offered up what they feel would be the next steps leading up to replacing the structure, according to recommendations from a completed benefit-cost analysis report from COWI and Dartmouth-based Stantec.
Cape Breton highway, infrastructure fixups outlined for summer and beyond
