Nova Scotia Highway 102 - Future Development

Future Development

Highway 102 near Halifax was the subject of a 2009 study called Highway 102 Corridor Study which examined the performance of the existing highway and projected which upgrades will be required in the future.

The proposed Highway 113 would create a new interchange between Larry Uteck Boulevard (Exit 2B) and Hammonds Plains Road (Exit 3). Highway 113 is intended to be a connector from Highway 102 to Highway 103, serving as a bypass to the heavily traveled Hammonds Plains Road (Route 213). Highway 113 is not yet budgeted and in addition some opposition has been mounted due to the route proposed.

Interchange for Larry Uteck Boulevard

A new interchange at Larry Uteck Boulevard (designated Exit 2B) was opened in 2010 between Exits 2 (Kearney Lake Road) and 3 (Hammonds Plains Road). Future plans are in place to also connect the west side of the interchange to Kearney Lake Road.

This is the first major interchange to be built on Highway 102 since the mid 1990s and is intended to serve the rapidly growing community of Bedford South and the future area of Bedford West. The interchange is based on the traditional diamond layout but uses roundabouts instead of signalized intersections at the ramps for increased safety and capacity.

As part of this project, Larry Uteck Boulevard was extended to the new interchange and now provides a direct connection between Highway 102 and Bedford Highway, serving new residential retail areas.

Congestion

Traffic volumes on Highway 102 between Highway 101 and Bayers Road vary between 40,000 and 53,000 vehicles per day. Many motorists still prefer using the older 2-lane Bedford Highway (Trunk 2), which in comparison has volumes between 18,000 and 25,000 vpd and operates at or near 100% capacity through much of its length during peak periods.