Residents of Lower Sackville, N.S., living in a mobile home park are advocating for a safer pathway to access essential services, as many are risking their lives by crossing a dangerous highway to reach groceries and transit. Despite the dangers, people choose to traverse the highway illegally to save time and avoid a longer route.
The lack of access to services on their side of the highway poses a significant risk to pedestrians, especially children. Two fatalities have occurred in the past decade due to the hazardous conditions of crossing Nova Scotia’s Highway 101.
Halifax Regional Council recently reviewed a report recommending the construction of multi-use pathways and bridges to enhance pedestrian and cycling connections between the mobile home park and Old Sackville Road. The proposed designs aim to provide a safe and legal route for residents to access vital amenities without putting their lives in jeopardy.
Coun. Paul Russell emphasized the importance of securing provincial funding to implement the chosen design and ensure the safety of residents. The recommended options come with varying price tags, with the most popular design estimated at $7.6 million.