Menu

traffic

378544427_10168167349490381_2852978625400111000_n

Local governments re-establish Highway 101 Task Force

, , ,

Local governments are working together to improve Highway 101.

Representatives from Digby, Clare and Yarmouth are reforming the Highway 101 Task Force, a collaborative effort to include the Marshalltown-to-Weymouth bypass project in the province’s Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan.

Four kilometres of the 25-kilometre stretch of road was improved in 2019, but the rest has yet to be brought up to 100-series highway standards. 

In a press release the Task Force said they recently held their first meeting, where municipal representatives were joined by Digby-Annapolis MLA Jill Balser, Clare MLA Ryan Robicheau and MP Chris d’Entremont.

“By working together and speaking with a unified voice, our municipalities can more effectively demonstrate the importance of the Mashalltown-to-Weymouth bypass project to residents, businesses, and visitors throughout the region,” said Warden Linda Gregory, Chair of the Task Force. “This project is essential to improving transportation infrastructure and ensuring the long term safety and prosperity of our communities.”

According to the press release, the members have agreed to continue with regular meetings to develop a coordinated advocacy strategy to make the project a regional priority. 

TurbineDeliveryMap2

No set schedule available for wind turbine deliveries

, ,

A representative from Elemental Energy, the company developing the Wedgeport Wind Farm, says they are not planning for any road closures along the delivery route.

The Wedgeport Wind Farm is located on Black Pond Road, and will be home to 12 turbines measuring 30 metres tall, with the ability to power 30,000 homes.

“At this time, we are unable to provide a schedule of when turbine components will arrive on site, as there are many factors that can impact turbine transport activities along the route,” said Jonathan Turner, a spokesperson for Elemental Energy. 

The delivery route follows Highway 334, 3 and 104, but extends further northeast through the province.

Turner went on to say that he expects most of the deliveries to be in the late morning to early afternoon, and that there could be four to six deliveries a day, as opposed to the previously anticipated three to four.

According to Turner, the company has coordinated with local municipalities to provide information on transport routes, and received transport permits from Public Works.

The Wedgeport Fire Chief Steve Jacquard said the station has coordinated with Elemental Energy in case of emergencies, and that they haven’t had any issues so far, but that delays are a possibility. 

Transportation for propellers will continue until early August, and are being brought in from Mulgrave and Sheet Harbour.

white wind turbine under blue sky during daytime

Wedgeport fire chief working on plan for emergencies as wind turbines get moved

, ,

As wind turbine parts get hauled to the Wedgeport Wind Project over the next several weeks, the fire chief said he is working on a plan in case a road closure results in a delay to emergency services response time.

In an interview with Acadia News, Steve Jacquard said that there have been “growing pains”, but they’ve been working with officials from the Wedgeport Wind Project to figure it out.

Three to four deliveries of wind turbine parts a day are moving from Sheet Harbour and Mulgrave to the site on Black Pond Rd. 

The farm is set to have 13 turbines up to 200 metres tall to power 30,000 homes.

The delivery route could cause road closures and traffic delays for short periods of time along Highway 103, Highway 3 and Highway 334 according to a Facebook post from Argyle MLA Colton LeBlanc.

Previously, Jacquard said the department was planning on putting emergency equipment across the area in the unlikely case of being blocked in.

However, according to Jacquard that is no longer going to happen and instead the department has a contingency plan to coordinate with Yarmouth and surrounding emergency services teams, but that delays of up to 10 minutes are possible.

During emergencies, quick response time can often be a key factor. A study published by The Journal of the American Heart Association found that “appropriate initiatives should be adopted to reduce EMS response time”, and that response time influences survival during cardiac arrests.

Jacquard also said he has plans to meet with officials from the Wedgeport Wind Project to discuss the matter further.

Central Ave intersection July 2025 (3)

Fort Frances council ends provincial funding request for roundabout project

,

Fort Frances council is officially withdrawing an application for provincial funding related to a proposed roundabout.

It comes after council was split on a decision not to award a contract for the design work of the project proposed for the Central Avenue intersection at 2nd, 3rd and 4th Streets.

Chief Administrative Officer Marcel Michaels indicated at the last council meeting that the contract’s decision would likely be left for the next council.

Information and Growth Manager Travis Rob expressed concern on Monday with the timing of that happening.

“If delayed to the next council, there wouldn’t be enough time in the grant window remaining to undertake the work prior to the ending of the grant window,” says Rob.

“Connecting Link won’t do an extension on that grant window for us, so we are left with having to withdraw our application.”

Withdrawing the application means $180,000 in provincial funding through its Connecting Links program to cover 90% of the design work costs is forfeited.

Some councillors remain concerned about the cost of the roundabout.

A consultant’s report identified a nearly $5 million price tag.

It also pegged costs to replace the traffic lights and bring the intersection up to Ministry of Transportation standards at about $3 million.

Councillor Bill Morrison says he would still like a further breakdown of those costs and consideration of other options to improve the area.

“I just want to give us some options out there, and I’m willing to vote again,” says Morrison.

“If we have seen some other options, I’m willing to look at the whole situation. That’s what I said in the beginning, I just want to see some options.”

In his report to council, Rob stated that re-applying to the provincial government for funding of an alternative design option may not be successful, given that a third-party report supports a roundabout as the best option for the intersection.

A majority of council also voted to accept that recommendation.

Rob adds in the report that it would also lead to any work at the intersection being borne by local taxpayers.

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0569.JPG

Halifax launching first fully electric, eco‑friendly water taxi this May

, , , , ,

A new way to cross Halifax Harbour is on the way, as FlyteBoat prepares to launch the city’s first fully electric water taxi service.

The boats will connect key waterfront areas, including Halifax Harbour, downtown Dartmouth, the Islands, and the Northwest Arm. The company says trips can be booked online, with on-demand and scheduled options depending on the time of day, plus pet-friendly service and multiple pick-up points.

Each boat will carry 8 to 12 passengers and will be fully heated and weather protected. Service options include commuter and tourist routes for efficient peak-time service or scenic loops around cultural destinations, while private charters are available for groups and special events.

Inside FlyteBoat’s water taxi. PHOTO: FLYTEBOAT

Topher Kingsley-Williams of FlyteBoat says the service “will offer people a simple way to skip traffic, get across the water faster, and actually enjoy the trip at the same time.” He adds, “if we can take even a small number of cars off the road, that’s a win.”

According to the company, the service will save roughly 285 tonnes of CO2 compared with conventional gas-powered boats, which they say is equivalent to taking about 62 cars off the road for an entire year. Since the fleet is fully electric, the boats won’t emit toxic fumes and will be quieter, reducing riders’ carbon footprint and noise pollution.

FlyteBoat says it will start with three vessels in May 2026, with plans to expand as it works to reduce traffic and emissions across the region.

Highway 1 Tanker crash April 8 2026

UPDATE: Highway 1 eastbound lane reopens after truck crash

, , ,

Traffic is flowing again eastbound on Highway 1 between Quispamsis and Hampton.

The New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization says one eastbound lane reopened on Wednesday night.

Motorists are advised to slow down and use caution as crews continue their cleanup after a large fuel spill last week.

A tanker truck rolled over, closing the highway in both directions for several days.

An estimated 36,000 litres of fuel spilled near kilometre marker 153, outside Hampton.

The highway in both directions was closed for several days after the crash on April 8.

The westbound lanes reopened on Friday.

Natural Resources Minister and Hampton-area MLA John Herron visited the site on Monday.

Central Ave intersection July 2025 (2)

Tie-vote halts Fort Frances roundabout proposal

A proposed roundabout has been stopped by Fort Frances council.

A decision to award a contract for the design work of the project for the Central Avenue, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Streets intersection was defeated in a tie vote at Monday’s council meeting.

Administration was able to lower an original bid of $256,000 to $210,648.

Ninety percent of that cost would have been covered by a provincial grant because the project falls on a municipal road that provides a link to the provincial highway network.

The remaining $30,000 would be covered by the town.

Councillor Bill Morrison rejected it because of the changing numbers he has seen since the project first came to Council.

It was initially estimated that a roundabout would cost $1-$2 million.

A consultant’s report pegged it closer to $4.7 million for a two-lane version.

“There are alternatives to that intersection that can be done cost-efficiently, safely and bring it up to standard and to do it responsibly without overspending millions more than initially estimated,” says Morrison.

Administration notes the lights at the intersection have been failing for some time and that the intersection does not meet Ministry of Transportation standards.

Operations and Facilities Manager Travis Rob says Council’s decision not to award the design work contract will likely mean having to return the provincial grant.

“If Council has changed their mind, we would be forfeiting that funding and going back to Connecting Link, potentially next year, for funding to redesign the intersection to retain signals,” says Rob.

He estimates the cost of the design work to still be around $200,000, while the consultant’s report estimated a redesign of the intersection costing as much as $3 million.

Council did not decide on what direction would now be taken.

Blocked traffic on highway

Northern Ontario road safety measures, nothing new to Thunder Bay-area MPP

, ,

A northwestern Ontario MPP says a recent announcement to improve road safety in northern Ontario is a re-announcement.

The province is promising to hire more Ministry of Transportation inspectors and accelerate plans to four-lane Highway 11-17 between Thunder Bay and Shabaqua.

It includes the hiring of more Ministry of Transportation inspection officers and electronic road signs.

Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois says it sounds good, but they are really measures the government has promised before.

“These are re-announcements, so it’s not actually anything new, but it does show that they’re feeling the heat,” says Vaugeois.

There was no mention of staffing for an inspection station in Shuniah.

Vaugeois says there may be some action taking place.

” I heard… that 21 people are in the pipeline being trained for Shuniah. I’m hoping that they are coming from the region because the MTO has had a habit of sending people up from southern Ontario, and they get some training, and then they leave.”

The government’s announcement also offers no mention of plans to improve truck driver training.

Vaugeois says it is something the industry is looking for.

“I’ve met with many of the drivers; they want that training,” says Vaugeois.

“They want the industry regulated. They want to know that they’re safe on the highways.”

The NDP has put forward a separate private member’s bill addressing training.

It is before Queen’s Park, awaiting second reading.

OPP logo new

Multiple charges issued during traffic stop in Fort Frances.

, ,

A decision by Ontario Provincial Police to stop a vehicle in Fort Frances has led to a man from North Caribou Lake facing several chanrges.

OPP says they initially pulled over the vehicle because it was missing its license plates.

During their investigation, officers determined the driver was behind the wheel while under suspension.

The 34-year-old was also charged with impaired driving after open liquor was spotted.

He was also charged with driving without plates and insurance, as well as failing to apply for an owner’s permit.

The driver was handed an automatic 90-day driver’s licence suspension, while the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

He is scheduled to appear before a Fort Frances courtroom in May.

Dryden overpass Oct 2025

Dryden receives funding to help with planned bridge improvements

, , ,

The provincial government is helping Dryden with planned improvements to two bridges in the city.

The over $179,000 will be used toward the engineering and design work for the bridge at the west end of Duke Street and the overpass.

A 2024 inspection found the bridges still in good condition, but were showing signs of deterioration and corrosion.

“The most recent 2024 OSIM inspections identified localized deterioration and age-related wear on both structures, including concrete delamination, corrosion, joint deterioration, and coating deficiencies,” reads a city administration report presented to council last November.

“While both bridges remain in Good condition, proactive rehabilitation design is required to maintain safety and extend service life.”

The engineering work is scheduled to take place this year and is expected to be completed by next March.

The city then hopes to seek out additional funding for the improvements.

Load More