Safer routes and highway access for Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation

Afton, Nova Scotia – The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are investing in well-planned road infrastructure that will contribute to building more efficient transportation corridors and supporting sustainable and inclusive First Nations communities for years to come.

Rodger Cuzner, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso; and Lloyd Hines, Nova Scotia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, announced up to $15.3 million in federal-provincial funding for the Highway 104 Paqtnkek Interchange Project. The federal government is contributing more than $6.4 million through the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component (BCF-MIC), with the Government of Nova Scotia providing up to $8.9 million.

This collaborative project, in partnership with the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, involves the construction of a large diamond interchange, including new north and south connector roads and highway underpass. These improvements will significantly reduce travel times for residents of the Paqtnkek community, and increase safety and traveller mobility to and from Highway 104. Most importantly, the new interchange will provide improved 100 Series highway access to Reserve lands that were previously disconnected from the highway.

“The Government of Canada is working in close partnership with the province of Nova Scotia to ensure we make smart infrastructure investments that help grow the economy, promote sustainable development and increase public safety. By supporting the development of important transportation infrastructure, like Highway 104 and the Paqtnkek Interchange, we help create increased opportunities for Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation and area residents,” said Cuzner.