Survey Says: Safe

Most Nova Scotians are satisfied with the provincial highways system, according to the 2008 Highway Customer Satisfaction Survey. The survey says 76 per cent of Nova Scotians feel safe driving and 65 per cent feel safe walking in their communities. Overall satisfaction with the highway system remains relatively consistent at 61 per cent. Cellphone use while driving was the top issue among respondents, followed closely by speeding and distracted drivers. This fiscal year, the department has dedicated More than 530 million dollars to highway spending, an almost 87-million-dollars more than last year. The 2008 Overall Highlights Report is available on the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal website at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/publications/ . The 2009 survey has begun.

Winter Weather

Cape Breton will bear the brunt of an early winter storm. Environment Canada says the island will be experiencing very strong winds and snowfall amounts in some areas up to 25 centimeters. The south shore has been mainly seeing rain falling with the storm system moving past the province. Some areas are getting snow but it's not really adding up. The relatively warm pavement is keeping it from amounting to a lot although road conditions may get a bit slippery with slush, wet snow and rain.

From Environment Canada: A low pressure system south of Nova Scotia will lie southeast of Cape Breton this evening. Up to 15 centimetres of snow is expected inland and over high terrain. The Cape Breton highlands could see up to 25 centimetres. Additionally.. strong northerly winds will develop tonight with gusts up to 110 km/h beginning this afternoon and evening. For the south shore, it's periods of rain ending this afternoon then cloudy. Rain at times mixed with snow this morning. Rainfall amount 5 to 10 mm except snowfall amount 5 cm inland and over higher terrain. Wind northeast 40 km/h gusting to 60 becoming north 50 gusting to 70 this morning.

103 Accident

Two people were taken to hospital with undertermined injuries after a single-vehicle accident on Highway 103 in Hebb's Cross west of Bob and the Boys (Exit 14). The car left the road, ending up in the ditch. Firefighters and paramedics got the two out of the vehicle and loaded them into an ambulance. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening. One lane of highway 103 was closed for an hour early yesterday afternoon. The car had New York State plates.

Bill Damages

The causeway at Western Head was a casualty of the storm over the weekend. A large section was destroyed with waves washing away the pavement entirely. It will likely take some time for crews to repair the damage and rebuild the causeway. Several roads closed because of Hurricane Bill are back open today. In Lunenburg County, sections of Green Bay Road in Green Bay and Point Road in Blue Rocks had been blocked off because of water. They are reopened. And in Queens County, a section of Trunk 3 near Hunts Point and Summerville previously closed because of flooding are now passable. As roads re-open, drivers are reminded to watch for water and debris, and to adjust speed according to conditions.

Early Risers

2009-04-24 06:12:50

Starting this September, the beginning of the new school year there will be a change in bus routes and bell times for the Chester area family of schools.  Board Chair Elliott Payzant says by and large the proposed changes  which have been in the works for years are widely supported .  Recommendations included changing daily beginning and ending bell times from 9:25 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 8:45 a.m.  and 2:40 p.m.   Bus runs in the morning and afternoon would also be reduced for a total of 8 fewer runs   Bus routes were also designed to be the  most direct routes possible  to reduce travel time for the students in the extremities of the Municipality.

Queens Announcement

2009-04-07 06:17:33

A major infrastructure funding annoucement being made in the Region of Queens this morning.  Premier Rodney MacDonald, Brooke Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, and MP Gerald Keddy,  representing the government of Canada, will be on hand for  the announcement at 9:30 this morning in the Municipality's Council Chambers.

Road Critic

2009-04-07 06:16:51

Queens MLA and NDP Transportation Critic, Vicki Conrad says the Conservative government must address the deplorable road conditions in Queens. Conrad has written to Minister Brooke Taylor and has forwarded a petition with 250 signatures of concerned citizens.  Conrad says the condition of the Green Bay, Petite Riviere and Italy Cross Roads continue to be of great concern to all that live and travel the roads. She adds it's time the Conservative government take advantage of the road improvement needs for the constituency of Queens and ensure that roads in communities across Nova Scotia are made safer.

RV Light Fix

09:45:56 2009-04-01

Bluenose RV's owner says they are willing to fix an issue with a light on their dealership off Exit 12. Darren Young tells CKBW they've been speaking with Department of Transportation about the issue for months. He adds they tried to get some clarification on the matter not long after the lights went up and someone complained to them. Young says one light will be moved as soon as the employee who is going to do the work returns from down south, within a couple of weeks.   And he says the D-O-T were fine with that since it took them three months to get back to Bluenose about the issue.  DOT says they were reacting to a complaint about a light on the RV dealer's property shining onto Highway 103. Under the Motor Vehicle Act no one is allowed to put up a light that creates a glare on the highway.