Bypass to offer shorter commute times

BEAVER BANK - Work on the long awaited Beaver Bank bypass could begin as early as this fall, Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville MLA Barry Barnet said last week.

"We're looking at doing preliminary land clearing this fall, and in 2009 we'll issue the tender to construct a large diamond interchange similar to the one on Glendale Drive and Highway 102," said Barnet.

"We're at the point now where the next 12 months will see construction and it will not be long before (people) get to take advantage of it."

The bypass will be located about one kilometre west of the Lucasville Road on Highway 101 and three kilometres west of the Beaver Bank Road on Sackville Drive. Barnet said the road will intersect Sackville Drive just before Atlantic Gardens.

"Everyone who lives in Middle/Upper Sackville will now have a new interchange to connect to Highway 101. One third or more cars that currently use the Beaver Bank interchange at Kent will no longer need to use that interchange," Barnet said.

"The intersection there has a tremendous history of accidents. Kent Building Supplies is probably one of the worst driveways in the province."

Almost two years ago, Barnet hosted a well-attended community meeting with local residents and department of transportation representatives. He said they showed residents the bypass proposal, discussed the road's proposed alignment, and then made use of the residents' feedback in their redesign.

"Some people have had concerns about the distance between the new road and their houses. The final design is similar to Glendale Drive," Barnet explained. "It's a limited access, no driveway type of road. DOT bought a sufficient parcel of land to leave significant undisturbed area between houses and the new road as a buffer."

Barnet plans to host another meeting before the end of the month to show the redesigned proposal to residents whose properties abut the proposed roadway.

"It gives the community an additional entrance/exit to the highway. Not only is it quicker and more efficient to get to the city, but it's also safer for road work and emergency services," he said.

"It's a unique road that has the ability to shorten commuting time for a lot of people. As a result of that, it also reduces our carbon emissions."

Although the provincial government is spearheading the project, the Beaver Bank bypass is being funded by all three levels of government.

ydentremont@hfxnews.ca