HALIFAX — The federal government has pledged a little more than $200 million in infrastructure projects in Nova Scotia, a good chunk of which will help improve the highway system.

Federal Defence Minister Peter MacKay made the announcement last week, which totals $210 million in stimulus cash from the feds. With the addition of provincial, municipal, university and Port of Halifax contributions factored in, the total for a wide array of projects could reach $422 million.

According to a story in the Chronicle Herald, MacKay insisted the federal dollars would be delivered even if there is a provincial election in the spring and the investment will reinforce Nova Scotia’s reputation as a place to do business, to work, to learn and to live.

"With this construction season just about to get underway, this very much accounts for the timing of this announcement," MacKay told a news conference. "We want to make sure that those jobs are going to begin right away."

The work includes half a dozen Atlantic Gateway projects worth an estimated $172 million. There’s cash for improving two terminals at the Port of Halifax, a road connecting highways 102 and 107, a high-speed highway interchange in Truro, upgrades to Highway 344 to support the proposed Melford container terminal and money for marketing and business development.

Ottawa and the province are both putting up $18.5 million for paving secondary roads. Traditionally, money from Ottawa is only used to cost-share major highways.

— with files from the Chronicle Herald