Darkness on Highway 111 Sparks Safety Concerns as Repairs Stall
Drivers in Halifax and Dartmouth are raising safety concerns over unlit stretches of Highway 111 between the MacKay Bridge and Mic Mac Mall. A motor vehicle accident damaged electrical infrastructure, delaying refurbishment, while a separate crash has forced the closure of a pedestrian overpass.
A section of Highway 111 running from the MacKay Bridge to Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth, N.S., currently lacks lighting at night, prompting safety concerns among local drivers.
Motorist Hillary Doucet described driving through the unlit stretch as "terrifying," noting significant visibility issues during dark mornings. Dartmouth East-Burnside Councillor Tony Mancini said he receives regular complaints from residents about the darkness but clarified that the highway is provincial infrastructure.
Nova Scotia Public Works Minister Fred Tilley explained that planned refurbishment of poles and electrical cabinets along the route was delayed after a motor vehicle accident destroyed one of the cabinets. The province is now waiting for Nova Scotia Power to conduct inspections before the highway lights can be switched back on.
In addition to the lighting outage, a pedestrian overpass crossing Highway 111 remains closed after an accident damaged its supports. Public Works has hired an engineer to assess the pedway structure and determine repair options, and the overpass will stay closed during that process.