HALIFAX, N.S. – Nova Scotia and the federal government have struck an agreement that may allow for the twinning of the ‘Death Highway,’ a notorious stretch of two-lane blamed for dozens of fatalities.

Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm told reporters on his way into a Conservative caucus meeting recently that he “had a highway funding deal with Ottawa” in the works.

The agreement was reached during a telephone conversation with federal Industry Minister Allan Rock.

“I would hope that we would either have the Prime Minister or minister Rock himself come to town and participate in an announcement,” says Hamm.

“We’d like to give them something to announce.”

Hamm says a formal announcement will be made soon, but didn’t say when.

Last fall, the premier made a personal appeal to Prime Minister Jean Chretien for as much as $300 million in funding for the province’s highways.

The political pressure on the Conservative government increased last summer when neighboring New Brunswick signed a $400-million deal to improve the Trans-Canada Highway in the western portions of that province.