History

A major project milestone was reached in December 2022 with the opening of approximately 9km of 4-lane divided highway between Exit 30 at James River and Exit 31 - just west of Antigonish.

In 2023, work will continue on outstanding sections of the highway as well as the remaining bridges, overpasses and road construction.

November 2022 was another very active month on the project.

Construction activities for the month included earthworks, bridge construction, rock cap and aggregate placement, fine grading, asphalt placement, guide rail installation, line painting, asphalt milling, and wildlife fence installation. Works on the eastern end of the project were focused on paving and final preparations for opening a nine (9) km section of newly-twinned highway to the public in early December 2022.

Construction on the project continues with progress on the James River interchange, pipe installation, and hydroseeding near the Lamont Road overpass in Telford.

Construction activities continue throughout the project. Traffic is currently being detoured onto 25.5 km of new highway while the adjacent side is constructed. The travelling public is now driving over 10 of the 24 new bridges and structures. The project has surpassed 1,550,000 person hours worked. At peak, over 400 workers can be on site at one time. Construction will continue through the fall and winter and will see advancement on new structures and paving in several sections including on the new 10 km section over Weaver’s Mountain. The project is on track to be completed before the end of 2023.

Work continued on Barney’s River Interchange, French River Bridge, and James River Bridge and Interchange

Summertime is high construction season and significant progress has been made across the project including key areas at James River Interchange and Middle Brook.

Activities throughout the month included culvert installation; earthworks; bridge construction; demolition; drilling & blasting; placements of aggregate, rock capping, fine grading, asphalt paving and application of rumble strips; guiderail installation, line painting and signage installation; electrical work at interchanges; landscaping, wildlife fence installation.

Middle Brook Girder Installation May 10^th and 11^th, 2022

Construction continued along the entire alignment throughout the month of April 2022 with tree clearing, culvert installations, earthworks, bridge construction, drilling & blasting, aggregate production and placement, existing structures demolition, pavement milling, and wildlife fence installation.

Construction activity for March 2022 included tree clearing, culvert installation, earthworks, bridge construction, drilling and blasting, aggregate production and placement, demolition, and wildlife fence installation.

Construction activity continues into February with girder placements, demolition and pile driving.

Construction activity starts off the year with demolition, culvert installations, new girders and infill.

As of December 2021, the travelling public is on about 23 km of new highway.

Construction work for 2021 included site preparation, earth moving, culvert installations, bridge construction, subgrade, interchanges, paving and the completion of nine new structures for the Highway 104 Twinning Project.

Construction work highlights from October 2021.

A great deal of paving completed in preparation for September detours and Q4 traffic flips; Middle Brook bridge pier construction and key culvert installs.

Construction activity for August 2021 included; Work on the off Highway Vehicle passage Brierly Brook, Rock Capping west and east of James River Bridge, East French River EB Deck Pour, capping New East Bound lanes east of French River Trunk 4, and fills from Sutherlands River to Lamont Road.

Construction activity for July 2021 included; Girder installation at Barney's River Interchange, cutting and fill towards Pushie Road, preparations for James River Interchange North Roundabout, and girder installation at East French River.

Construction activity for June 2021 included; Armour stone and pile driving for French River Bridge, Culvert 67 installation, and additional work at Weaver Mountain Quarry.

Construction activity for May 2021 included; Barney's River Interchange, drilling and blasting Weaver Mountain, and work on eastbound James River Bridge.

Construction activity for April 2021 included; concrete deck pour at Barney’s River Bridge, crushing operation in Weavers Mountain area.

Construction activity for January 2021 included; girder placement for the new James River Bridge, work on the new James River Interchange, and site preparation for new four lane alignment bypass for Marshy Hope.

Installation of girders for the construction of the new Lamont Road Overpass.

On Friday, October 16 the first support beams (girders) for the highway project were placed at Barneys River West Side Road for new overpass construction.

It’s been a busy summer and fall for Dexter Nova Alliance as progress continues on the Highway 104 Twinning project. Focus is on the Mill Road intersection and James River interchange, among others. Much of our work has been installing culverts, a necessary step on the road to a new, improved highway for all Nova Scotians.

We anticipate an even busier winter as we work to complete the project on time and on budget. Check our website to see our traffic notifications and follow @NS_TIR for Highway 104 updates.

Crews and machinery officially broke ground on the project. Find out more here.