Survey finds drivers unhappy with N.S. roads

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HALIFAX, N.S. – In case there was any doubt left in the minds of the Hamm Government, a new highways department survey makes it plain: motorists are not very happy with Nova Scotia’s roads.

How satisfied are motorists using Nova Scotia’s highways, the 2001 customer satisfaction survey by the Ministry of Transportation and Public
Works asked.

The answer? “Overall, customer satisfaction with the provincial highway system
stands at 50 percent,” the ministry says, down from 54 percent in 2000.

“It’s another clear indication that we need more capital funds for highway and bridge improvements,” says Ron Russell, the minister in charge of the department.

The department plans to use the survey results as leverage in its talks with Ottawa, “to reinvest a larger share of the gas tax revenues it collects in this province.”

Ominously, the government says in a press release, “we can’t stop there. We’re going to have to look at all options to pay for the work that Nova Scotians know needs to be done.”

According to the survey results, the top priorities for most people is repairing and resurfacing existing highways, and in some cases, twinning highways.

Seventy-seven percent rated filling cracks and potholes as being a very important service.

But despite the low overall opinion of Nova Scotia roads, motorists did however feel safe, according to the survey. Seventy-two percent said they feel “very safe or somewhat safe” when using provincial highways.

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