Nova Scotia Highway 125
Encyclopedia
Highway 125 is a 30 km long controlled-access highway
located in Nova Scotia
's Cape Breton Regional Municipality
.
Part of the provincial 100-series arterial highway network, Highway 125 encircles the west side of Sydney Harbour, from an interchange with Highway 105
(the Trans-Canada Highway
) at Sydney Mines
to Trunk 4 (Grand Lake Road) at Sydney
.
The provincial government named it Peacekeepers Way on 18 August 2008.http://www.gov.ns.ca/premier/speeches/2008-08-18-PeacekeepersWay.asp
to a twinned 4-lane freeway. Particularly problematic was the fact that the highway passes in proximity to Pottle Lake, the water supply reservoir for North Sydney
, which required installation of pollution control monitoring and containment systems.
Approximately 6 km of the highway near its mid-point is currently slated for similar upgrading. As well, the province is completing the planning and design for the twinning of the remaining two-lane section of the highway, between Exit 6 (with Trunk 4/Kings' Rd) and Exit 9 (also with Trunk 4/Grand Lake Rd).
In 2002 a connector road was built from the Grand Lake Road interchange which gives access to the port of Sydney at the former Sydney Steel Corporation
property which is now an industrial park.
In the fall of 2006, an additional interchange was opened at Coxheath Road, offering direct access to the communities of Coxheath
, Blacketts Lake
, and the Cantley Village subdivision.
In January 2008, a public meeting was held to discuss the required infrastructure to finally twin Highway 125 from its six lane divided portion in Sydney River
to its eastern terminus at Grand Lake Road. The design work and implementation will require the construction of a roundabout at the George Street exit (in addition to the roundabout at the Alexandra Street exit that was completed in December 2009), as well as over-pass structures for George Street, and Cow Bay Road/Upper Prince Street. At-grade intersections will be eliminated, and access roads will be constructed for a DND small arms range between Exits 8 (George Street) and Exit 9 (Grand Lake Road/SPAR), as well as the fresh water reservoir. The project is expected to be completed in 2012.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal is currently (summer 2009) constructing new east-bound lanes from Exit 4 (Balls Creek
) to Exit 5A (Coxheath Road). Once all necessary bridge work and paving is completed, Highway 125 will be almost completely twinned, except for the scheduled portions mentioned previously.
Controlled-access highway
A controlled-access highway is a highway designed exclusively for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow and ingress/egress regulated...
located in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
's Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Regional Municipality often shortened to simply CBRM, is a regional municipality in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton County.According to the 2006 Census of Canada, the population within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is 102,250...
.
Part of the provincial 100-series arterial highway network, Highway 125 encircles the west side of Sydney Harbour, from an interchange with Highway 105
Nova Scotia Highway 105
Highway 105 in Nova Scotia represents the Cape Breton Island leg of the Trans-Canada Highway. It runs from the junction just east of the Canso Causeway in Port Hastings to the Marine Atlantic ferry terminal in North Sydney, representing a distance of ....
(the Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
) at Sydney Mines
Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia
Sydney Mines is a former town in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.Founded in 1784 and incorporated as a town in 1889, Sydney Mines has a rich history in coal production, although mining activity has now ceased.Prior to a permanent settlement being established, there was significant...
to Trunk 4 (Grand Lake Road) at Sydney
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
.
The provincial government named it Peacekeepers Way on 18 August 2008.http://www.gov.ns.ca/premier/speeches/2008-08-18-PeacekeepersWay.asp
Route description
The northern third of the highway was upgraded during the late 1990s and early 2000s from a two-lane freewayTwo-lane freeway
A two-lane expressway is an expressway with only one lane in each direction, and usually no median barrier. It may be built that way because of constraints, or may be intended for expansion once traffic volumes rise. The term super two is often used by roadgeeks for this type of road, but traffic...
to a twinned 4-lane freeway. Particularly problematic was the fact that the highway passes in proximity to Pottle Lake, the water supply reservoir for North Sydney
North Sydney, Nova Scotia
North Sydney is a community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.Located on the north side of Sydney Harbour, along the eastern coast of Cape Breton Island, North Sydney is an important port in Atlantic Canada as it is the western terminus of the Marine Atlantic ferry service...
, which required installation of pollution control monitoring and containment systems.
Approximately 6 km of the highway near its mid-point is currently slated for similar upgrading. As well, the province is completing the planning and design for the twinning of the remaining two-lane section of the highway, between Exit 6 (with Trunk 4/Kings' Rd) and Exit 9 (also with Trunk 4/Grand Lake Rd).
In 2002 a connector road was built from the Grand Lake Road interchange which gives access to the port of Sydney at the former Sydney Steel Corporation
Sydney Steel Corporation
Sydney Steel Corporation was a Crown corporation in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-Steel comes to Sydney:An integrated steel mill was established on the southeast side of Sydney Harbour in the Whitney Pier neighbourhood of Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1901 by American investors...
property which is now an industrial park.
In the fall of 2006, an additional interchange was opened at Coxheath Road, offering direct access to the communities of Coxheath
Coxheath
Coxheath is a village and civil parish within the Borough of Maidstone, Kent, England. The parish is approximately south of Maidstone. It is mainly centred along Heath Road which links the villages of Yalding and Boughton Monchelsea to the west and east, respectively.A replica beacon pole and the...
, Blacketts Lake
Blacketts Lake
Blacketts Lake is a lake of Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada.-References:*...
, and the Cantley Village subdivision.
In January 2008, a public meeting was held to discuss the required infrastructure to finally twin Highway 125 from its six lane divided portion in Sydney River
Sydney River
This article is about the river. For the community of the same name, see Sydney River, Nova Scotia.The Sydney River is a short river located in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada....
to its eastern terminus at Grand Lake Road. The design work and implementation will require the construction of a roundabout at the George Street exit (in addition to the roundabout at the Alexandra Street exit that was completed in December 2009), as well as over-pass structures for George Street, and Cow Bay Road/Upper Prince Street. At-grade intersections will be eliminated, and access roads will be constructed for a DND small arms range between Exits 8 (George Street) and Exit 9 (Grand Lake Road/SPAR), as well as the fresh water reservoir. The project is expected to be completed in 2012.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal is currently (summer 2009) constructing new east-bound lanes from Exit 4 (Balls Creek
Balls Creek, Nova Scotia
Balls Creek is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality on Cape Breton Island.-References:*...
) to Exit 5A (Coxheath Road). Once all necessary bridge work and paving is completed, Highway 125 will be almost completely twinned, except for the scheduled portions mentioned previously.
Interchanges from south to north
| Exit number* | Intersecting Roads | Direction | Wikimapia view |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highway 105 Nova Scotia Highway 105 Highway 105 in Nova Scotia represents the Cape Breton Island leg of the Trans-Canada Highway. It runs from the junction just east of the Canso Causeway in Port Hastings to the Marine Atlantic ferry terminal in North Sydney, representing a distance of .... , Route 305 Nova Scotia Route 305 Route 305 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and connects Little Bras d'Or at Highway 105 with Westmount at Trunk 4. It was originally known as Trunk 5 until 1970-Communities:... (Main Street) |
Northbound http://www.gov.ns.ca/tran/cameras/camdetails.asp?id=North%20Sydney | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46236637&x=-60263207&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
| 2 | Johnston Road; King Street | Northbound, Southbound | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46215907&x=-60271908&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
| 3 | Route 223 Nova Scotia Route 223 Route 223 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located on Cape Breton Island and runs from Leitches Creek Station at Route 305 to North Side Whycocomagh Bay at Highway 105.... (Bras d'Or Lakes Scenic Drive Bras d'Or Lakes Scenic Drive The Bras d'Or Lakes Scenic Drive is a scenic roadway on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. It extends around the perimeter of Bras d'Or Lake.-Routes:*Highway 105*Trunk 4*Route 205*Route 216*Route 223-Communities:*Baddeck*Boularderie Island... ), Route 305 Nova Scotia Route 305 Route 305 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and connects Little Bras d'Or at Highway 105 with Westmount at Trunk 4. It was originally known as Trunk 5 until 1970-Communities:... (Seaview Drive) |
Northbound, Southbound | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46170336&x=-60311905&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
| 4 | Route 239 Nova Scotia Route 239 Route 239 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and connects Gibbon at Route 305 with North West Arm at Route 305.... (Point Edward Connector) |
Northbound, Southbound | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46146815&x=-60306734&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
| 5 | Sydport Access Road | Northbound, Southbound | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46123009&x=-60262145&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
| 5A** | Coxheath Road | Northbound, Southbound | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46110835&x=-60240966&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
| 6 |  Trunk 4 (Kings Road) |
Northbound, Southbound | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46106097&x=-60229261&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
| 7 | Route 327 Nova Scotia Route 327 Route 327 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and connects Sydney at Trunk 4 with Gabarus.... (Alexandra Street, Gabrius Highway) |
Northbound, Southbound | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46104936&x=-60202396&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
| 8 |  Trunk 22 (George Street, Louisbourg Highway (Marconi TrailMarconi Trail The Marconi Trail is a scenic roadway in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.Located in eastern Cape Breton Island, the route is entirely within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and runs from Louisbourg to Glace Bay along the island's eastern coast.... )) |
Northbound, Southbound | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46115290&x=-60168439&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
| 9 | Trunk 4 (Grand Lake Road) |
Southbound | http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=46147165&x=-60144117&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2 |
- *Exit numbers in Nova Scotia are sequential
- **Opened in October 2006.