CITYnews halifax : New road maintenance program will make for smoother commutes

CITYnews halifax / By Emma Amodio

Some good news for drivers was announced on Tuesday: the province is investing in smoother roads with the introduction of more specialized equipment for pothole repairs.

There are more than 80 pieces of new equipment being introduced costing a total of $8 million. This includes a new way of managing asphalt to ensure better and longer-lasting pothole repairs alongside new front-end loaders which will have brush cutters that can more easily reach under guardrails and across shoulders.

The government is investing $161 million into asphalt and the resurfacing of highways and roads this year, with $26 million of that designated for summer repairs.

Other new equipment includes skid steers with asphalt planers, sweepers and compactor attachments for patching roads.

“We never stop trying to make our roads safer, and it’s time to modernize our maintenance program with new technology that can deliver better roads for Nova Scotians,” said Public Works Minister Fred Tilley in a release. “This investment builds on the significant progress we’ve made on improving the condition of our transportation system to help businesses move their goods and ensure people get where they need to go.”

Asphalt will now be handled using hot boxes, insulated boxes that allow crews to mix and move the heated asphalt anywhere, which will help make repairs more effective. Before this maintenance program, asphalt was transported on a truck where it would cool down en route.

Each area of Nova Scotia will be assigned a designated crew to use this new pothole and cutting equipment.

A full list of the new equipment is available at this link.