Road Construction Season in NS

by Angela Sanford

Definitely not getting caught for speeding!

   A quick trip to Toronto can give you a whole new appreciation for the traffic we experience here in Nova Scotia, especially rural Nova Scotia — and for the roads we sometimes take for granted.

   Earlier this month, a short detour on Highway 202 was necessary while repairs were being made to a culvert. Through Upper Rawdon, the detour added an extra minute or two to travel time and with the higher volume of commuter traffic along that stretch, it became a bit of an inconvenience for anyone travelling toward Nine Mile River, Elmsdale or beyond. Still, for me, it was just that—a minor inconvenience. It didn't really disrupt my life.

   Then there's the detour at the end of the old Enfield Road, which has added another small wrinkle to my Saturday morning bulletin deliveries. During the first week, I enjoyed the novelty of seeing a different route and taking in some new scenery. But by now, I'd be quite happy to see the road reopened. And I'm certain the residents along that stretch feel exactly the same. I'm sure they'd like their quieter lifestyle back—one that isn't disturbed nearly as much by the higher volume of traffic as it has had since the detour began.

   I've seen some of the same sentiments expressed on social media by people living along Highway 202 affected by construction. For a few days, those residents have experienced what it feels like to have their roads temporarily closed and their usual traffic disappear. There can be something surprisingly peaceful about a normally busy road suddenly becoming quiet.

   Of course, someone could easily ask, Why do you live on such a busy stretch of road? You chose to live there.

   And I understand that perspective, also. I live on Highway 354, where the speed limit changes from 80 km/h to 50 km/h—and, as anyone who lives along a busy highway knows, that lower speed isn't always adhered to. My driveway also opens onto a busy back road that has been a well-used route for ATVs for the more than 25 years I've lived here. Over those years, there have been fewer than a handful of occasions when the travellers have been disruptive to us. But the route can be a busy one, so, it's nice to have fewer ATVs travelling along the old road now that they can use the main route into the village. It brings just a little more peace and quiet.

   All of this became even more noticeable after spending time on the roads around Toronto. On stretches of 400-series highways, with hundreds of cars in sight, there were times when our top speed was less than 20 kilometres per hour. Although we were never completely stopped, crawling along in traffic certainly made me appreciate the lower volume of traffic we generally experience back home.

   For the few years I travelled to Halifax regularly for work, I was always grateful that my hours were usually 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. That schedule allowed me to avoid much of the worst commuter traffic in even a relatively small city like Halifax. I cannot fathom the daily commute into downtown Toronto in rush hour – yikes!

   But I will give Toronto drivers credit. Even when our road trip slowed to a crawl, we saw remarkably few drivers who didn't respect the space between vehicles or offer courtesy to those entering from on-ramps. When construction forced traffic to merge into fewer lanes, most drivers seemed willing to take turns and make room. After driving in Montreal, Toronto actually felt considerably less aggressive, and the city's layout made getting around easier than I expected.

   Still, after all those kilometres and all that traffic, I was happy to be back on Nova Scotia roads.

   And seeing the comments on social media about the construction and detours here, I have to remind myself that a little roadwork is a small price to pay for better roads and safer travel.

   So, I'll take the detours. I'll take the occasional inconvenience. I'll take a few extra minutes on the road if it means the culverts are repaired, the roads are improved and the routes we rely on are made better for everyone.

   Because whether you're commuting to work, making deliveries, heading to town, travelling by ATV or simply trying to get home, we all benefit when the roads beneath us are built to carry us there.