Highway 104 Sutherlands River to Antigonish Twinning Project
Location: Sutherlands River to Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Status: In Operation
Provincial/Federal/Municipal: Provincial
Date of Financial Close: May 2020
Date of Substantial Completion: August, 2023
Type of P3: DBFOM
Total Dollar Amount: $719.9 million
Handback: 2043
Highway 104 serves as a vital section of the Trans-Canada Highway, connecting Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and major cities across Canada. Twinning the corridor between Sutherlands River and Antigonish addressed long-standing safety and capacity concerns along a busy and complex stretch of roadway.
The project covered roughly 38 kilometres, from the end of the existing twinned highway near Sutherlands River to the divided section west of Antigonish. The scope combines 28 kilometres of twinning with 10 kilometres of new four-lane alignment through the Marshy Hope area, where the former route passed through mountainous terrain and presented safety challenges. Construction also required 31 major structures, two new interchanges, access roads and targeted upgrades along the existing right-of-way.
Environmental management shaped many aspects of delivery. Sensitive flora, including Black Ash, were relocated with Indigenous involvement. Numerous Fisheries Act authorizations were required to manage works at fish-bearing streams, and wetland compensation measures were applied along the route.
Bundling greenfield and brownfield segments under a single contract allowed the private partner to assess and manage defect risk across the corridor. A mass-balance approach reduced environmental impacts by reusing on-site material wherever possible. Bedrock excavated during construction served as aggregate and subgrade improvement material, supported by an on-site quarry that reduced truck traffic, fuel use and reliance on external sources.
As construction advanced, the partners used a straightforward process to manage refinements and keep the schedule on track. The completed corridor delivers a safe and reliable connection through northeastern Nova Scotia, supported by long-term private-sector maintenance and operations.
Partners:
Public: Nova Scotia Department of Public Works
Private: Dexter Nova Alliance (DNA) (Dexter Construction Company Limited, Nova Construction Co., BBGI SICAV S.A., Municipal Enterprises Limited)
Awards:
