RCMP and other emergency crews are on the scene of a possible plane crash near Mill Village. (RCMP)
UPDATED 5:35 P.M.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a possible plane crash on Tuesday afternoon near Mill Village.
But after extensive air and ground patrols of the area, “neither RCMP nor (search and rescue crews) observed evidence of a plane crash, a plane in distress, or a situation that required emergency response,” according to a statement from Nova Scotia RCMP on Tuesday just before 5 p.m.
Queens District RCMP received several calls at about 1:15 p.m. of emergency flares near Mill Village. One caller said they saw a plane in distress in addition to the flares, the RCMP said.
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax deployed a CH149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC295 Kingfisher airplane as part of the search. Queens RCMP officers searched on the ground through rural areas and worked with drone operators as part of the search.
Firefighters and RCMP rushed to an area off Highway 103 just before 2 p.m. after reports that flares and smoke could be seen.
The RCMP thanked members of the public who called 911.
RCMP are investigating a fatal car crash in Port Mouton on Thursday.
Queens District RCMP, EHS and fire services responded to the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 103 at 9:16 a.m.
An eastbound Mazda 3 and a westbound International truck collided on the highway.
An 84-year-old man who was the driver and lone occupant of the Mazda died at the scene, RCMP said in a news release on Saturday.
The 35-year-0ld driver and lone occupant of the truck was taken to hospital with non-fatal injuries. RCMP did not provide an update on his condition.
An RCMP collision reconstructionist was at the scene, and the highway was closed for several hours.
Police are asking anyone with information on the crash, including dashcam footage, to contact Queens District RCMP at 902-354-5721. Or anonymous tips can be given to Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or by using the P3 Tips app.
More than 150 projects will be undertaken over the next year at a price tag of almost $500 million dollars.
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal minister Lloyd Hines says the focus will be on completing the twinning projects already underway on the 100-series highways.
“Twinned highways save lives. We know that. We have statistical information to illustrate that,” said Hines.
Chief Engineer at TIR Peter Hackett says the study and public consultation done by the department in 2016 identified the section of Highway 103 between Tantallon and Bridgewater for twinning.
The new plan will continue to twin Highway 103 from Halifax as far as Hubbards but will not extend further into the south shore in the near future.
“It’s on the radar from the department but it’s not currently on radar for funding at the present time,” said Hackett. “So somewhere down the road that will be looked at again as well as the other sections that we had identified in that program.”
Hackett says TIR is exploring alternatives to make those sections of Highway 103 not scheduled for twinning, safer in the short term.
“We are looking at other options such as more climbing lanes or as we have down in the Annapolis Valley, what they call two plus one lanes which are just extra lanes on a flat surface as opposed to a hill surface,” said Hackett.
He says an example of those safety improvements is the addition of climbing, or passing lanes being added between Exits 9 and 10.
The MLA for Queens-Shelburne Kim Masland is left with more questions than answers following today’s announcement.
“What’s the commitment to twinning the rest of the highway?” asked Masland. “What is the plan of the minister? What is the plan of the department? That needs to be communicated to Nova Scotians so they know what to expect. That’s what this five-year highway plan is all about. It’s supposed to be taking the politics out of pavement. It’s supposed to be making sure people know what projects are coming forward.”
Projects are prioritized based on a number of factors.
TIR has a process in place where each of the 51 MLAs meet with department officials to make their case for road improvements in their ridings.
The officials then measure those requests against priorities for highways construction, paving, or other infrastructure needs such as bridges, overpasses and roundabouts.
The need and technical requirements help to dictate how soon a project will be completed.
Queens won’t see any major infrastructure as part of the new plan. But in 2021 residents can expect to see fresh asphalt on a three and a half kilometer stretch on Trunk 3 from the Liverpool Town line south towards White Point, almost four kilometers of the Medway River Road from Bangs Falls to the end and on Beech Hill Road from Trunk 3 to the end.
Masland says those few projects don’t measure up to the support neighbouring constituencies are receiving.
“If you compare Lunenburg County to Queens County, it’s glaring and that’s very disappointing to see that we’re not getting our fair share,” said Masland.
In the next year alone, Lunenburg County will see two major projections along Highway 103: the passing lanes between exits 9 and 10 and the construction of a third interchange in Bridgewater between exits 12 and 13. Lunenburg will also see over 30 kilometers of new asphalt while TIR will be laying down less than 12 in Queens.
Hines says all 51 MLAs were consulted prior to the development of the five-year plan.
The minister says whether it’s transporting goods for business or driving to visit relatives, keeping up highways is essential to Nova Scotians.
“Roads is [sic] a critical investment in both the social and safety and economic well-being of the province. Roads are extremely important to those three considerations.”
Temporary arrows have been in place since the fall at Exit 22A along Highway 103. Photo Kim Masland
Travellers to Queens will have an easier time getting to some of the area’s beaches and attractions.
The intersection of Highway 103 and Exit 22A will have new directional arrows painted this week.
The turnoff leads to popular locations like White Point, the Quarterdeck and Summerville beach.
Queens-Shelburne MLA Kim Masland said that stretch of Highway 103 has become particularly dangerous since it underwent repairs this summer.
After the micro-sealing took place Masland said the directional arrows were not properly repainted over the multi-lane intersection to indicate to drivers whether or not they could turn.
And the temporary arrows painted on with a spray can are insufficient.
“They look like they were drawn on by my grandson,” said Masland. “It’s absolutely pathetic.”
Temporary arrows at Exit 22A along Highway 103. Photo Kim Masland
Masland has heard from constituents for months how difficult it is to see the arrows and how dangerous that stretch of road can be especially at night or in bad weather.
She followed up on one call and was concerned with what she found.
“I actually got in my car myself that night and drove up to the intersection,” said Masland. “It was pouring rain and it was dark. I’m familiar with that section of the road and I really didn’t know where I was supposed to be because there were no arrows to indicate where I was supposed to be in the road.”
Masland has been in repeated contact with the Nova Scotia department of transportation and infrastructure renewal since October about getting appropriate arrows in place.
She was pleased when she received a call indicating the painting will get underway this week.
A spokesperson from TIR confirmed crews will be out to perform the work as soon as the weather allows.
The department is also set to get to work on a much bigger project in Queens.
Signs are going up this week to detour cars around the Mill Village Bridge.
The condition of the bridge surface is another concern Masland has been hearing about from residents for years.
Mill Village Bridge in need of resurfacing. Photo Kim Masland
While Masland said she has been assured the bridge is completely safe, and has no reason to doubt those assurances, many residents don’t feel safe when they are crossing.
“I had one lady tell me that she travels across that bridge everyday and she literally just holds her wheel and closes her eyes as she goes across. Because, the appearance of it, it does look unsafe, but I have been assured that it is not [unsafe],” said Masland.
The bridge will be resurfaced beginning late this week or early next, again, depending on the weather.
That work is expected to take several months to complete.
