Andrew MacKinnon, director of public works for the Town of Truro, said the project hasn’t yet gone to tender as he had hoped. The town was hoping the project would go to tender at the end of November or the beginning of December, with construction beginning this winter.
“The roundabout ended up being one with multiple lanes, so it’s bigger in size and shape, and, of course, budget,” he said of the project that was expected to cost about $250,000.
“I don’t think we have any estimates (for cost) yet for the bigger one. We still have some work to do.”
Because of the change, MacKinnon said the project has to return to council for the budget process. Council usually meets in March for budget deliberations, with the budget being announced in April.
“Even with the changes, we are still looking at that for that area,” he said. “The roundabout (previously) was only one lane, but it needs to be two lanes now instead of one.”
The roundabout is designed to allow a better flow of traffic, especially for vehicles attempting to make lefthand turns from James Street and Lower Truro Road onto McClures Mills Road.
The situation is expected to get even more congested, especially with the Colchester East Hants Health Centre having opened at the end of November and the Rath Eastlink Community Centre opening next month.
