HANTSPORT, N.S. — It’s one of those intersections where, as you’re approaching it from any angle, you’re not quite sure which way you’re supposed to be going.
Luckily for Hantsport drivers, this will soon change.
The Municipality of West Hants has announced that, due to several reported near-miss incidents, that the intersection of Rand Street, Bog Road, and Holmes Hill Road in Hantsport will be realigned as part of a capital improvement project.
According to a press release on the municipality’s website, the realignment is scheduled to be completed before the end of June 2019.
The release also says that the project will use a sequential implementation of the street realignment marked with painted lines and construction barrels in order to eliminate the two-way traffic flow of the slipway lane.
At a later date, the size of the concrete island will be increased to permanently reduce the physical size of the slipway lane.
New signage is expected to help motorists understand the changes as they roll out.
The release says on-site personnel will make every effort to keep residents informed and advised of scheduled interruptions, such as driveway access, whenever possible.
Hantsport Coun. Robbie Zwicker said he welcomes the change.
“Very pleased that this is taking place,” Zwicker said via email. “This points out why reporting near-misses can be an effective tool for change.”
Brad Carrigan, director of public works for the municipality, said this project is part of a much larger road rehabilitation project for the entire community, already underway.
Carrigan said the work will be done with public works staff and a contractor in tandem.
“Throughout Hantsport we’re actively building and replacing asphalt sidewalks with concrete, which are easier to maintain,” Carrigan said.
Carrigan also said he’s witnessed a few near-misses himself at the intersection that’s being redesigned, adding that folks who are new to the area might have difficulty understanding how a two-way slipway lane works.
“Local residents that are used to going the other way will have to change their habits, going straight to the stop sign and then making a left or right from there,” he said. “We’ll have all-new signage in place.”
Other roads being worked on this season include: Davison Street, Oak Street and Cherry Lane. He’s hoping the first phase of those projects will be complete by July 1, in time for the community’s Canada Day celebrations.
There’s the potential for more road rehab projects after that, depending on budget availability.
Editor's note - an earlier version of this story suggested more sidewalks would be built in Hantsport, however, the director of public works clarified that there would be more work on public sidewalks this season, not new sidewalk construction.
