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Port Hastings roundabout to take 2 years and cost $15 million

The present old-style rotary design


November 30,2022

-by Rankin MacDonald
    Representatives from the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works updated the Inverness County Council on Thursday via Zoom, on the latest design for the new roundabout slated for the rotary in Port Hastings.
    Work has already been done on the two-year project and tenders are being prepared for the major construction that will make the present “circus maximus” safer and more traffic friendly and better for access to the local community facilities.
    The present rotary has a history of vehicle collisions and deaths and of being a bottleneck for traffic at times.
    The modern roundabout will allow a better flow of traffic to the 105, Route 19 and Trunk Four, but there are no plans to update the swing bridge which would carry a price tag of over $100 million.
    The plan is to keep the roundabout operating even when the swing bridge is open and there will be better access to the VIC, the museum, the motels, and the fire station and church.
    There will be more lanes which will have better in and out access as well as easier exits to feeder routes.
    The access to the TCH 105 will be elevated over Trunk 5 by way of a bridge.
    Council, which felt not updated enough on the major change in their municipality at Port Hastings, were more impressed with this new design.
    “This is a lot better than the first kick at the rotary cat,” said Deputy Warden Catherine Gillis who represents the Port Hastings area.
    “This looks a lot safer,” said Councillor Blair Phillips.
    To bring the changes to the public, a special public meeting will be held at the Port Hastings Fire Station on December 5th between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
    The provincial representatives pointed out that the roundabout will be much safer keeping the drivers informed as they approach and enter the roundabout with appropriate signage.
    Council wants to discuss other items such as crosswalks, sidewalks, who looks after the grass and sidewalk maintenance, and other items that may impact on the county.
    Extra land is needed to complete the project.
    The new roundabout will cost over $15 million and be done over two construction seasons.
    Improvements at the rotary have been discussed for over 30 years and the municipal staff will peruse the new designs and make suggestions to council which will then be forwarded to the provincial Department of Public Works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       


Oran Dan - The Inverness Oran - www.invernessoran.ca

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15767 Central Avenue. P.O. Box 100
Inverness, Nova Scotia. B0E 1N0
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