Traffic relief is on the way if you live in Antigonish.
Construction has been ongoing for weeks on West Street causing long wait times and blocking access to the hospital.
Many residents expressed their frustration with sitting in traffic on social media.
There was an emergency council meeting Thursday evening to address the construction and to hear from stakeholders, business owners, emergency personnel and health professionals.
“It affected the healthcare. It affected commercial businesses. And, it also affected like the volunteer for the fire departments,” shared Mayor Sean Cameron.
“When they get called, these volunteers leave their place of employment, rush to a truck, and then, they have to plot their way to go through our town with the maze of all the detours that we had in place during this construction.”
On a positive note, Cameron says paving of West Street will mostly be done at night starting Sunday, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and should be finished by Friday, completing the project.
One daytime shift is expected Thursday or Friday.
He says the asphalt should now last up to 20 years.
“There will be a portion between StFX and the old highway that may require some piping upgrades, but it will not result in total street closure,” said Cameron.
All the current road repairs in Antigonish are contracted to be completed by December 30, 2025.
