The Nova Scotia government announced its five-year highway plan this week. (File photo by Rick Conrad)

Queens County roads are getting some attention in the province’s five-year highway improvement plan, announced this week.

Queens MLA Kim Masland, who is also Nova Scotia’s Emergency Management and Natural Resources minister, said the work locally will help with climate change.

“Our government is committed to climate-resilient infrastructure,” Masland said in a news release. 

“Projects like the shoreline protection on Shore Road are vital to ensuring our roads can withstand future challenges.”

The overall $2.5-billion plan to upgrade highways, roads and bridges across Nova Scotia includes an extra $150 million planned for gravel roads.

New projects added for Queens include:

• Construction of shoreline protection on Shore Road in Western Head
• Paving 2.3 kilometres of the Long Cove Road in Port Medway from the Port Medway Road easterly to the end of the paved section
• Upgrading 2 km of the gravel section of the Long Cove Road
• Work on 0.75 km of the Ramey Road in Buckfield from Route 210 northerly to the end of the sand seal

The provincial plan includes more than 160 highway improvement projects across Nova Scotia in the coming year.

Construction timelines will depend on planning and tendering.

Entrance to Region of Queens council chambers. Photo Ed Halverson

A relatively light agenda at the Oct 12 Region of Queens council meeting started out with preparations for winter.

Council awarded the tender to truck bulk road salt to the lone submission, VanDyk Excavation & Truckin’ for $78.76 per metric tonne.

Visitors to Queens Place will see a new ice resurfacer in the summer of 2024 as council agreed to purchase a new electric Zamboni at a cost of $179,975.  Funding is coming from the province through a Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage grant valued at $205,000. The balance of the funds will be used to install the charging unit and make any necessary modifications.

The region will also partner with the province to pave a 200-metre-long section of Oliver Street. Queens will pay $50,000, half the cost of the total $100,000 project with the province picking up the balance.

Council next agreed to make an application to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to provide a one-time reduction of the consumption rate for residents affected by the two-months-long boil water advisory. If approved, residents will see the 70 percent reduction on their January bill.

Council then issued a dangerous and unsightly order for a property at 9777 Highway 8 in Caledonia near the fire station. The owner now has 30 days to clean up the site or they will be responsible to pay costs to the municipality to complete the work which includes demolishing a makeshift outbuilding, removing debris, and levelling the property.

In the discussion portion of the meeting councillors asked staff to report back with solutions for illegal dumping at Grey Boxes in private roads in Labelle.

Staff were also asked to provide council with options for reducing homelessness in Queens.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday October 24 at 6:00pm in the Seaside Recreation Centre in Eagle Head.

To hear the broadcast of this story click play below.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com